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TL;DR
This Mendelian randomization study used genetic data to estimate causal effects of smoking and alcohol on self-reported fatigue. The results suggest that quitting smoking and reducing alcohol intake may decrease fatigue risk.
PLOS ONE · 8 authors, 4 centres
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This Mendelian randomization study used genetic data to estimate causal effects of smoking and alcohol on self-reported fatigue. The results suggest that quitting smoking and reducing alcohol intake may decrease fatigue risk.
This two-sample Mendelian randomization study used genome-wide association study summary data from the UK Biobank to investigate causal effects of smoking and alcohol-related exposures on self-reported fatigue. The primary analysis employed the inverse variance weighted method, with sensitivity analyses including MR-Egger and weighted median estimators to address potential pleiotropy. Genetically predicted never-smoking status showed an inverse causal effect on fatigue risk, while current smoking and higher alcohol intake showed positive associations. The study had a large sample size, with participants of European descent, and used multiple sensitivity analyses to test robustness. Key limitations included the inability to fully explore all confounders and potential horizontal pleiotropy, possible weak instrument bias for some traits, and the risk of sample overlap between the two-sample MR datasets. The findings support that modifiable lifestyle factors like smoking cessation and limiting alcohol intake may reduce fatigue risk.