Exploring a Potential Causal Link Between Dietary Intake and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study

Abstract

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), the most prevalent chronic respiratory condition, significantly impairs patients’ quality of life. The pivotal element in disease management lies in prevention, underscoring the paramount importance of employing a scientific approach to investigate early prevention strategies for COPD.
Methods: This study delved into the causal link between 28 dietary intakes and COPD employing two-sample Mendelian randomization. We primarily utilized the Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW) method as the main outcome, complemented by Weighted Median (WM), MR-Egger method, along with several sensitivity analysis techniques, all accompanied by visual representations.
Results: We identified higher odds of COPD following exposure to green beans (OR=1.381, 95% CI=1.119– 1.704, P=0.003) and pork intake (OR=2.657, 95% CI=1.203– 5.868, P=0.016). In contrast, the odds of developing COPD were lower following exposure to dried fruit (OR=0.481, 95% CI=0.283– 0.819, P=0.007), cereal (OR=0.560, 95% CI=0.356– 0.880, P=0.012), and whole egg consumption (OR=0.700, 95% CI=0.504– 0.972, P=0.033).
Conclusion: In light of our study’s findings, we anticipate that strategically modifying dietary choices may offer an avenue for early COPD prevention in the future.