Independent causal effect of α, β, and γ crystallin on cataract: A Mendelian randomization study.

StudyBiomedical papers of the Medical Faculty of the University Palacky, Olomouc, Czechoslovakia· Jul 2026

Independent causal effect of α, β, and γ crystallin on cataract: A Mendelian randomization study.

Xin Li, Ling-Li Xu, Jian Cheng, Qi-Di Hu

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Cataract & RefractiveStudy

Higher genetically predicted α crystallin levels linked to slightly lower cataract odds

Independent causal effect of α, β, and γ crystallin on cataract: A Mendelian randomization study.

Xin Li … Qi-Di Hu

Biomedical papers of the Medical Faculty of the University Palacky, Olomouc, Czechoslovakia · Jul 2026

Purpose

This study aimed to explore the independent causal relationship between three types of crystallin proteins (α, β, and γ) and risk of cataract, using single nucleotide polymorphisms (single nucleotide polymorphisms) as instrumental variables for α, β, γ crystallin through Mendelian randomization (mendelian randomization) analysis.

Methods

Genetic instruments associated with α, β, γ crystallin levels and cataract were obtained from the IEU Open GWAS Project (GWAS IDs: prot-a-673, prot-a-674, prot-a-675, and ukb-d-20002_1278).

Results

higher alpha crystallin levels linked to slightly lower cataract risk

OR 1.00 (95% CI 1.00 to 1.00)

null 1

1.00

CI excludes the null - significant

More results

Conversely, no significant causal relationship was found between β or γ crystallin and the risk of cataract.

“

Conclusion

The occurrence of cataract may be potentially linked to abnormal levels of α crystallin, suggesting that monitoring and managing these levels could be crucial in understanding and potentially mitigating the risk of cataract.

Independent causal effect of α, β, and γ crystallin on cataract: A Mendelian randomization study.

Independent causal effect of α, β, and γ crystallin on cataract: A Mendelian randomization study.

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