Disentangling the Effect of BMI on Hepatocellular Carcinoma From Cirrhosis With Multivariable Mendelian Randomization - PubMed
3 hours ago
- #Mendelian Randomization
- #Obesity
- #Hepatocellular Carcinoma
- The study investigates the relationship between BMI (a proxy for obesity) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), particularly focusing on the role of cirrhosis.
- Univariable Mendelian randomization (MR) showed a 1.65-fold higher risk of HCC per standard deviation increase in BMI.
- Multivariable MR indicated that the effect of BMI on HCC becomes negligible when accounting for cirrhosis liability, suggesting cirrhosis is the primary mediator.
- No direct effects of inflammation or type 2 diabetes on HCC risk were found.
- Childhood obesity initially appeared to increase HCC risk, but this effect disappeared when adult body size was considered.
- The study concludes that cirrhosis liability is the main mediator of obesity's causal effect on HCC.