Genetically predicted circulating vitamin C in relation to cardiovascular disease.

Abstract

AIM:

We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study to assess the associations of genetically predicted circulating vitamin C levels with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).

METHODS AND RESULTS:

Ten lead single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with plasma vitamin C levels at the genome-wide significance level were used as instrumental variables. Summary-level data for 15 CVDs were obtained from corresponding genetic consortia, the UK Biobank study, and the FinnGen consortium. The inverse-variance-weighted method was the primary analysis method, supplemented by the weighted median and MR-Egger methods. Estimates for each CVD from different sources were combined. Genetically predicted vitamin C levels were not associated with any CVD after accounting for multiple testing. However, there were suggestive associations of higher genetically predicted vitamin C levels (per 1 standard deviation increase) with lower risk of cardioembolic stroke [odds ratio, 0.79; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.64, 0.99; P = 0.038] and higher risk of atrial fibrillation (odds ratio, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.00, 1.18; P = 0.049) in the inverse-variance-weighted method and with lower risk of peripheral artery disease (odds ratio, 0.76, 95% CI, 0.62, 0.93; P = 0.009) in the weighted median method.

CONCLUSION:

We found limited evidence with MR techniques for an overall protective role of vitamin C in the primary prevention of CVD. The associations of vitamin C levels with cardioembolic stroke, atrial fibrillation, and peripheral artery disease need further study.

• Authors: Shuai Yuan, Ju-Sheng Zheng, Amy M Mason, Stephen Burgess, Susanna C Larsson
• Journal: European journal of preventive cardiology (Eur J Prev Cardiol) Vol. 28 Issue 16 Pg. 1829-1837 (01 11 2022) ISSN: 2047-4881 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 34057996 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.

Chemical References

• Vitamins
• Ascorbic Acid

Topics

• Ascorbic Acid (blood)
• Cardiovascular Diseases (diagnosis, epidemiology, genetics)
• Humans
• Mendelian Randomization Analysis
• Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
• Risk Factors
• Vitamins (blood)