Han S, Xie G, Wang Y. Association between estrogen and kidney function: population based evidence and mutual bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.
Clin Exp Nephrol 2025:10.1007/s10157-024-02623-2. [PMID:
39826006 DOI:
10.1007/s10157-024-02623-2]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2024] [Accepted: 12/30/2024] [Indexed: 01/20/2025]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Previous studies have suggested a potential role of estrogen in the pathophysiology of chronic kidney disease (CKD); however, the association and causality between estrogen and kidney function remain unclear.
METHODS
The cross-sectional correlation between serum estradiol concentration and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) was analyzed using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2016. Causality was tested using mutual bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) approaches based on six large-scale GWAS studies. Weighted generalized multivariate linear regression was employed to estimate the association between estradiol and eGFR and ACR, and a restricted cubic spline analysis was utilized to investigate potential nonlinear relationships.
RESULTS
A total of 8932 participants were included. Serum estradiol concentration was positively associated with eGFR after adjusting for potential covariates (β, 0.76; 95% CI 0.24 to 1.27) and with ACR (β, 5.99; 95% CI 1.62 to 10.36). A nonlinear positive association was found between estradiol and eGFR, while an inverse "V"-shaped relationship was seen with ACR. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the stability of the relationship between estradiol and eGFR but indicated a less robust association with ACR. Stratified analysis showed that the association between estradiol and eGFR was particularly significant in populations with CKD and hypertension. All forward MR analyses demonstrated a positive causal relationship between estradiol and eGFR, but no causality was found between estradiol and ACR. No reverse causal association was observed.
CONCLUSIONS
Serum estradiol concentration was causally associated with eGFR. Further longitudinal research is needed to validate these findings.
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