Sex-specific Mendelian randomization phenome-wide association study of basal metabolic rate

Abstract Observationally, higher basal metabolic rate (BMR) is associated with metabolism-related disorders, cancer, aging, and mortality. In this Mendelian randomization (MR) phenome-wide association study, using two-sample MR methods, we systematically and comprehensively investigated the health e...

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Main Authors: Jack C. M. Ng, C. Mary Schooling
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98017-9
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author Jack C. M. Ng
C. Mary Schooling
author_facet Jack C. M. Ng
C. Mary Schooling
author_sort Jack C. M. Ng
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Observationally, higher basal metabolic rate (BMR) is associated with metabolism-related disorders, cancer, aging, and mortality. In this Mendelian randomization (MR) phenome-wide association study, using two-sample MR methods, we systematically and comprehensively investigated the health effects of genetically predicted BMR across the phenome sex-specifically. We obtained sex-specific genetic variants strongly (p < 5 × 10− 8) and independently (r2 < 0.001) predicting BMR from the UK Biobank and applied them to over 1,000 phenotypes within the same study. We combined genetic variant-specific Wald estimates using inverse-variance weighting, supplemented by sensitivity analysis. We used a false-discovery rate correction to allow for multiple comparisons as well as multivariable MR adjusted for body mass index and testosterone to investigate the independent effects of BMR on phenotypes with significant univariable associations. We obtained 217/219 genetic variants predicting BMR and applied them to 1,150/1,242 phenotypes in men/women, respectively. BMR was associated with 190/270 phenotypes in univariable analysis and 122/123 phenotypes in multivariable analysis in men/women. Examples of robust associations in multivariable analysis included those with neoplasms, diseases of the circulatory system, and growth and reproductive investment. In conclusion, BMR might affect a wide range of health-related outcomes. The underlying mechanisms and interactions between phenotypes warrant further study, as BMR is modifiable.
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spelling doaj-art-df7a24191eaf4e08be6831151654184e2025-08-20T03:14:06ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111610.1038/s41598-025-98017-9Sex-specific Mendelian randomization phenome-wide association study of basal metabolic rateJack C. M. Ng0C. Mary Schooling1School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong KongSchool of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong KongAbstract Observationally, higher basal metabolic rate (BMR) is associated with metabolism-related disorders, cancer, aging, and mortality. In this Mendelian randomization (MR) phenome-wide association study, using two-sample MR methods, we systematically and comprehensively investigated the health effects of genetically predicted BMR across the phenome sex-specifically. We obtained sex-specific genetic variants strongly (p < 5 × 10− 8) and independently (r2 < 0.001) predicting BMR from the UK Biobank and applied them to over 1,000 phenotypes within the same study. We combined genetic variant-specific Wald estimates using inverse-variance weighting, supplemented by sensitivity analysis. We used a false-discovery rate correction to allow for multiple comparisons as well as multivariable MR adjusted for body mass index and testosterone to investigate the independent effects of BMR on phenotypes with significant univariable associations. We obtained 217/219 genetic variants predicting BMR and applied them to 1,150/1,242 phenotypes in men/women, respectively. BMR was associated with 190/270 phenotypes in univariable analysis and 122/123 phenotypes in multivariable analysis in men/women. Examples of robust associations in multivariable analysis included those with neoplasms, diseases of the circulatory system, and growth and reproductive investment. In conclusion, BMR might affect a wide range of health-related outcomes. The underlying mechanisms and interactions between phenotypes warrant further study, as BMR is modifiable.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98017-9Body mass indexBasal metabolismMendelian randomization analysisMetabolismPhenome-wide association studyTestosterone.
spellingShingle Jack C. M. Ng
C. Mary Schooling
Sex-specific Mendelian randomization phenome-wide association study of basal metabolic rate
Scientific Reports
Body mass index
Basal metabolism
Mendelian randomization analysis
Metabolism
Phenome-wide association study
Testosterone.
title Sex-specific Mendelian randomization phenome-wide association study of basal metabolic rate
title_full Sex-specific Mendelian randomization phenome-wide association study of basal metabolic rate
title_fullStr Sex-specific Mendelian randomization phenome-wide association study of basal metabolic rate
title_full_unstemmed Sex-specific Mendelian randomization phenome-wide association study of basal metabolic rate
title_short Sex-specific Mendelian randomization phenome-wide association study of basal metabolic rate
title_sort sex specific mendelian randomization phenome wide association study of basal metabolic rate
topic Body mass index
Basal metabolism
Mendelian randomization analysis
Metabolism
Phenome-wide association study
Testosterone.
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98017-9
work_keys_str_mv AT jackcmng sexspecificmendelianrandomizationphenomewideassociationstudyofbasalmetabolicrate
AT cmaryschooling sexspecificmendelianrandomizationphenomewideassociationstudyofbasalmetabolicrate