Genetically predicted circulating concentrations of micronutrients and risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: a Mendelian randomization study

Epidemiological studies examining the association between circulating micronutrients and the risk of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy (HDP) have produced inconsistent results. Therefore, we conducted a Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to evaluate the potential causal relationship between micronutrients and HDP.

Nine micronutrients (beta-carotene, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, calcium, zinc, selenium, copper, folate, and phosphorus) were selected as the exposure factors. Summary data for gestational hypertension (14,727 cases and 196,143 controls) and preeclampsia/eclampsia (7212 cases and 174,266 controls) were extracted from the FinnGen consortium. The MR analysis employed the inverse variance weighted method and conducted a range of sensitivity analyses.

The inverse variance weighted method indicated no significant causal relationship between nine genetically predicted micronutrient concentrations and gestational hypertension, as well as preeclampsia/eclampsia. Sensitivity analyses suggested the absence of pleiotropy.

There is no strong evidence to support the causation between circulating micronutrients and hypertensive disorder during pregnancy.