Physical activity, sedentary behavior, and the risk of functional gastrointestinal disorders: A two-sample Mendelian randomization study

Objectives

Functional dyspepsia (FD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). In this study we aimed to explore the causal association between physical activity or sedentary behavior and the risk of FD and IBS.

Methods

Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was employed. Candidate genetic instruments for physical activity and sedentary behavior were retrieved from the latest published Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS), which included up to 703 901 participants. Summary-level GWAS data for FD (8 875 cases and 320 387 controls) and IBS (9 323 cases and 301 931 controls) were obtained from the FinnGen study. The causal effects were mainly estimated by inverse variance weighted (IVW) method. Sensitivity analyses were implemented with Cochran's Q test, MR-Egger intercept test, leave-one-out analysis, and the funnel plot.

Results

No significant association of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA), leisure screen time (LST), sedentary behavior at work (SDW), and sedentary commuting (SDC) with the risk of FD was found. However, there was a suggestive correlation between MVPA and the decreased risk of FD (odds ratio [OR] 0.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.39–0.99, P = 0.047). Genetically predicted MVPA decreased the risk of IBS (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.40–0.84, P = 0.004), while increased LST was positively associated with IBS risk (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.15–1.53, P < 0.001). No causal effects of SDW or SDC on IBS risk were observed.

Conclusion

MVPA and LST are causally linked to the development of IBS, which will facilitate primary prevention of IBS.