| Title: | Association of milk intake with hay fever, asthma, and lung function: a Mendelian randomization analysis |
| Journal: | European Journal of Epidemiology |
| Published: | 3 Jan 2022 |
| Pubmed: | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34978666/ |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-021-00826-5 |
| URL: | https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/publications/ce9f29ba-3cbb-4874-92b3-95656994a69a |
Publication 18688
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Abstract
BackgroundPrevious observational studies have indicated a protective effect of drinking milk on asthma and allergy. In Mendelian Randomization, one or more genetic variants are used as unbiased markers of exposure to examine causal effects. We examined the causal effect of milk intake on hay fever, asthma, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) by using the lactase rs4988235 genotype associated with milk intake.MethodsWe performed a Mendelian Randomization study including 363,961 participants from the UK Biobank.ResultsObservational analyses showed that self-reported milk-drinkers vs. non-milk drinkers had an increased risk of hay fever: odds ratio (OR) = 1.36 (95% CI 1.32, 1.40, p < 0.001), asthma: OR = 1.33 (95% CI 1.38, 1.29, p < 0.001), yet a higher FEV1: β = 0.022 (SE = 0.004, p < 0.001) and FVC: β = 0.026 (SE = 0.005, p < 0.001). In contrast, genetically determined milk-drinking vs. not drinking milk was associated with a lower risk of hay fever: OR = 0.791 (95% CI 0.636, 0.982, p = 0.033), and asthma: OR = 0.587 (95% CI 0.442, 0.779, p = 0.001), and lower FEV1: β = − 0.154 (standard error, SE = 0.034, p < 0.001) liter, and FVC: β = − 0.223 (SE = 0.034, p < 0.001) liter in univariable MR analyses. These results were supported by multivariable Mendelian randomization analyses although not statistically significant.ConclusionsAs opposed to observational results, genetic association findings indicate that drinking milk has a protective effect on hay fever and asthma but may also have a negative effect on lung function. The results should be confirmed in other studies before any recommendations can be made.</p>
6 Keywords
- Asthma
- Humans
- Lactase
- Lung
- Mendelian Randomization Analysis
- Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal
14 Authors
- Tea Skaaby
- Tuomas O. Kilpeläinen
- Yuvaraj Mahendran
- Lam Opal Huang
- Hannah Sallis
- Betina H. Thuesen
- Line Lund Kårhus
- Katja Biering Leth-Møller
- Niels Grarup
- Torben Hansen
- Oluf Pedersen
- Stephen Burgess
- Marcus R. Munafò
- Allan Linneberg
1 Application
| Application ID | Title |
|---|---|
| 17765 | Identifying causes of the allergy and asthma epidemics by using genetic biomarkers of exposures |
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