The impact of smoking and alcohol consumption on health:Mendelian randomization analysis

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K21696
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 58:Society medicine, nursing, and related fields
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: Noguchi Emiko 筑波大学, 医学医療系, 教授 (40344882)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 檜澤 伸之 筑波大学, 医学医療系, 教授 (00301896)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-07-30 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: メンデルランダム化 / アレルギー / 喫煙 / 飲酒

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We investigated the effects of drinking and smoking on allergy-related traits using Mendelian randomization. For the smoking instrument variable, we conducted a new GWAS using Japanese samples and utilized SNPs from 12 regions obtained from a meta-analysis of our results and previously reported data. Mendelian randomization analyses were performed for allergic sensitization and cedar pollen sensitization. As a result, no association was detected between allergic sensitization or cedar pollen sensitization and smoking. On the other hand, rs671, which is strongly associated with drinking, was also found to be associated with cedar pollen sensitization. However, since rs671 is associated with various traits, including drinking behavior and eating habits, further research is needed to clarify its relationship with drinking.

Free Research Field

遺伝医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

喫煙や飲酒は一般的には健康には“あまりよくないもの”と考えられておりそれを支持する研究報告も多数存在する。一方で、喫煙が疾患発症に抑制的に働くという報告もある。因果関係を明らかにするためには、喫煙・飲酒の摂取群と非摂取群をランダム化した前向き試験が必要となるが、嗜好品のためランダム化比較試験を行うことは不可能である。本研究では、喫煙について日本人サンプルを用いたGWASを新たに実施し、既報とのメタ解析から複数のGWAS有意水準を満たす領域を検出し、instrument variableとして使用した。本研究の結果から喫煙がアレルギー感作や花粉症と関連するというエビデンスは得られなかった。