Causal Associations Between the Gut Microbiota and Hypertension-Related Traits Through Mendelian Randomization: A Cross-Sectional Cohort Study.

Abstract

Previous studies have suggested a link between the gut microbiome and hypertension-related traits like blood pressure. However, these reports are often limited by weak causal evidence. This study investigates the potential causal association between gut microbiota and hypertension-related traits using Mendelian randomization with summary data from genome-wide association studies. The inverse-variance weighted method revealed that the Clostridium innocuum group (Odds ratio [OR]: 1.0047, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0004-1.0090, p = 0.0336), Eubacterium fissicatena group (OR: 1.0047, 95% CI: 1.0005-1.0088, p = 0.0266), Lachnospiraceae FCS020 group (OR: 1.0063, 95% CI: 1.0004-1.0122, p = 0.0361), and Olsenella (OR: 1.0044, 95% CI: 1.0001-1.0088, p = 0.0430) were associated with an increased risk of hypertension. Conversely, Flavonifractor (OR: 0.9901, 95% CI: 0.9821-0.9982, p = 0.0166), Parabacteroides (OR: 0.9874, 95% CI: 0.9776-0.9972, p = 0.0121), and Senegalimassilia (OR: 0.9907, 95% CI: 0.9842-0.9974, p = 0.0063) were associated with a decreased risk of hypertension. External validation with the Guangdong Gut Microbiome Project confirmed a negative correlation between Parabacteroides and hypertension, potentially through metabolic pathways. These findings provide further evidence supporting the hypothesis that microbes and their metabolites play a role in blood pressure regulation.