The effect of body mass index on smoking behaviour and nicotine metabolism: a Mendelian randomization study

Amy E. Taylor; Rebecca C. Richmond; Teemu Palviainen; Anu Loukola; Robyn E. Wootton; Jaakko Kaprio; Caroline L. Relton; George Davey Smith; Marcus R. Munafò

doi:10.1093/hmg/ddy434

The effect of body mass index on smoking behaviour and nicotine metabolism: a Mendelian randomization study

Amy E. Taylor, Rebecca C. Richmond, Teemu Palviainen, Anu Loukola, Robyn E. Wootton, Jaakko Kaprio, Caroline L. Relton, George Davey Smith, Marcus R. Munafò

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

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Abstract

Given clear evidence that smoking lowers weight, it is possible that individuals with higher body mass index (BMI) smoke in order to lose or maintain their weight.

We performed Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses of the effects of BMI on smoking behaviour in UK Biobank and the Tobacco and Genetics consortium GWAS, on cotinine levels and nicotine metabolite ratio in published GWAS, and on DNA methylation in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.

Our results indicate that higher BMI causally influences lifetime smoking, smoking initiation , smoking heaviness and also DNA methylation at the aryl-hydrocarbon receptor repressor (AHRR) locus, but not smoking cessation. While there is no strong evidence that BMI causally influences cotinine levels, suggestive evidence for a negative causal influence on nicotine metabolite ratio may explain this.

There is a causal effect of BMI on smoking, but the relationship is likely to be complex due to opposing effects on behaviour and metabolism.

Original language	English
Article number	ddy434
Pages (from-to)	1322-1330
Number of pages	9
Journal	Human Molecular Genetics
Volume	28
Issue number	8
Early online date	18 Dec 2018
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddy434
Publication status	Published - 15 Apr 2019

Research Groups and Themes

Brain and Behaviour
Tobacco and Alcohol
Physical and Mental Health
ICEP

Keywords

Nicotine
Smoking
body mass index procedure
metabolism
Genome-Wide Association Study
Mendelian randomisation analysis

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1093/hmg/ddy434

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This is the final published version of the article (version of record). It first appeared online via Oxford Academic at https://academic.oup.com/hmg/advance-article/doi/10.1093/hmg/ddy434/5251961. Please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher.
Final published version, 2 MBLicence: CC BY
Supplementary information PDFFinal published version, 485 KBLicence: CC BY

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Cite this

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title = "The effect of body mass index on smoking behaviour and nicotine metabolism: a Mendelian randomization study",

abstract = "Given clear evidence that smoking lowers weight, it is possible that individuals with higher body mass index (BMI) smoke in order to lose or maintain their weight. We performed Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses of the effects of BMI on smoking behaviour in UK Biobank and the Tobacco and Genetics consortium GWAS, on cotinine levels and nicotine metabolite ratio in published GWAS, and on DNA methylation in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.Our results indicate that higher BMI causally influences lifetime smoking, smoking initiation , smoking heaviness and also DNA methylation at the aryl-hydrocarbon receptor repressor (AHRR) locus, but not smoking cessation. While there is no strong evidence that BMI causally influences cotinine levels, suggestive evidence for a negative causal influence on nicotine metabolite ratio may explain this. There is a causal effect of BMI on smoking, but the relationship is likely to be complex due to opposing effects on behaviour and metabolism.",

keywords = "Nicotine, Smoking, body mass index procedure, metabolism, Genome-Wide Association Study, Mendelian randomisation analysis",

author = "Taylor, {Amy E.} and Richmond, {Rebecca C.} and Teemu Palviainen and Anu Loukola and Wootton, {Robyn E.} and Jaakko Kaprio and Relton, {Caroline L.} and {Davey Smith}, George and Munaf{\`o}, {Marcus R.}",

year = "2019",

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doi = "10.1093/hmg/ddy434",

language = "English",

volume = "28",

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journal = "Human Molecular Genetics",

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T1 - The effect of body mass index on smoking behaviour and nicotine metabolism

T2 - a Mendelian randomization study

AU - Taylor, Amy E.

AU - Richmond, Rebecca C.

AU - Palviainen, Teemu

AU - Loukola, Anu

AU - Wootton, Robyn E.

AU - Kaprio, Jaakko

AU - Relton, Caroline L.

AU - Davey Smith, George

AU - Munafò, Marcus R.

PY - 2019/4/15

Y1 - 2019/4/15

N2 - Given clear evidence that smoking lowers weight, it is possible that individuals with higher body mass index (BMI) smoke in order to lose or maintain their weight. We performed Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses of the effects of BMI on smoking behaviour in UK Biobank and the Tobacco and Genetics consortium GWAS, on cotinine levels and nicotine metabolite ratio in published GWAS, and on DNA methylation in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.Our results indicate that higher BMI causally influences lifetime smoking, smoking initiation , smoking heaviness and also DNA methylation at the aryl-hydrocarbon receptor repressor (AHRR) locus, but not smoking cessation. While there is no strong evidence that BMI causally influences cotinine levels, suggestive evidence for a negative causal influence on nicotine metabolite ratio may explain this. There is a causal effect of BMI on smoking, but the relationship is likely to be complex due to opposing effects on behaviour and metabolism.

AB - Given clear evidence that smoking lowers weight, it is possible that individuals with higher body mass index (BMI) smoke in order to lose or maintain their weight. We performed Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses of the effects of BMI on smoking behaviour in UK Biobank and the Tobacco and Genetics consortium GWAS, on cotinine levels and nicotine metabolite ratio in published GWAS, and on DNA methylation in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.Our results indicate that higher BMI causally influences lifetime smoking, smoking initiation , smoking heaviness and also DNA methylation at the aryl-hydrocarbon receptor repressor (AHRR) locus, but not smoking cessation. While there is no strong evidence that BMI causally influences cotinine levels, suggestive evidence for a negative causal influence on nicotine metabolite ratio may explain this. There is a causal effect of BMI on smoking, but the relationship is likely to be complex due to opposing effects on behaviour and metabolism.

KW - Nicotine

KW - Smoking

KW - body mass index procedure

KW - metabolism

KW - Genome-Wide Association Study

KW - Mendelian randomisation analysis

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The effect of body mass index on smoking behaviour and nicotine metabolism: a Mendelian randomization study

Abstract

Research Groups and Themes

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Handle.net

Other files and links

Embargoed Document

Embargoed Document

Embargoed Document

Embargoed Document

Embargoed Document

Embargoed Document

Embargoed Document

Fingerprint

Rework of IEU Munafo Programme

IEU 2 Relton Programme - Epigenetic Epidemiology

IEU: MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit Quinquennial renewal

Professor Marcus R Munafo

Dr Amy E Taylor

Cite this

The effect of body mass index on smoking behaviour and nicotine metabolism: a Mendelian randomization study

Abstract

Research Groups and Themes

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Handle.net

Other files and links

Embargoed Document

Embargoed Document

Embargoed Document

Embargoed Document

Embargoed Document

Embargoed Document

Embargoed Document

Fingerprint

Projects

Rework of IEU Munafo Programme

IEU 2 Relton Programme - Epigenetic Epidemiology

IEU: MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit Quinquennial renewal

Profiles

Professor Marcus R Munafo

Dr Amy E Taylor

Cite this