@article{Li2026, 
author = {Chen Li and Jiao-Man Wang and Wei-Hua Yang},
title = {Causal effect of obesity on cataract and mediating roles of metabolites: a Mendelian randomization study},
year = {2026},
journal = {International Journal of Ophthalmology},
volume = {19},
number = {3},
pages = {564-574},
keywords = {body mass index, obesity, Mendelian randomization, cataract, waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.18240/ijo.2026.03.18},
doi = {10.18240/ijo.2026.03.18},
abstract = {AIMTo investigate the causal effect of obesity on cataract risk and explores the potential mediating roles of metabolites using Mendelian randomization (MR).METHODSSummary-level data from large-scale genome-wide association studies to examine the relationship between obesity and cataract were utilized. Obesity-related traits, including body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist circumference (WC). A two-sample MR approach was employed to assess the causal effect of obesity on cataract risk, while potential mediators were identified from suitable genome-wide association studies (GWAS) datasets. Additionally, a metabolic pathway analysis was conducted.RESULTSAn increase of 1 standard deviation (SD) in BMI, WHR, and WC was associated with a significantly higher risk of cataract (BMI: odds ratio (OR) 1.0017, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.0001–1.0032, P=0.0320; WHR: OR 1.0029, 95%CI: 1.0006–1.0051, P=0.0129; WC: OR 1.0020, 95%CI: 1.0001–1.0038, P=0.0390]. These associations remained robust after adjusting for confounding factors in multivariable MR analysis. Furthermore, a two-step MR analysis identified eight potential metabolic mediators, with one mediator showing a significant causal role in the relationship between obesity and cataract.CONCLUSIONThis work highlights the importance of addressing obesity as a modifiable risk factor for cataracts, particularly through metabolic pathways.}
}