A Mendelian randomization study on the causal effects of dietary components on arterial stiffness

Background Arterial stiffness (AS) is a prevalent issue affecting the elderly population, emerges as a significant risk factor for cardiovascular events (CVs), yet the impact of dietary components remains inconclusive. Methods This study employs a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) framework to assess the causal association between specific nutrients and AS risk. Genomewide association study (GWAS) summary statistics for wheat products, pork, mutton, sugar as exposures, with the AS index as the outcome. Results Utilizing the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method, genetically informed MR analysis reveals a noteworthy inverse correlation between wheat product consumption and AS risk (IVW, β: -2.043, 95% confidence interval(CI): [-2.724; -1.364], P =  3.87×10 ⁹ ). Conversely, there exists a positive correlation between the intake of pork and mutton and the risk of AS. No significant links are observed for sugar consumption. Conclusions Increased wheat product intake reduces AS risk, while heightened pork and mutton intake elevates it, offering critical insights for AS prevention.