Relationships between Meat Intake and Pan-Cancer: Univariate and Multivariate Mendelian Randomization Analysis

Abstract

Abstract Background To the best of our knowledge, there is currently no research utilizing causal methods to investigate the association between meat intake and pan-cancer outcomes. In observational studies, meat intake has been implicated in various cancer incidences. In this study, we employed both univariate and multivariate Mendelian randomization methods to assess whether the intake of six types of meat is causally linked to 23 different types of cancer. Methods We utilized genetic data sourced from the UK database to conduct univariate Mendelian randomization studies on the causal relationships between the intake of five types of meat and 23 different cancer types. Furthermore, we applied multivariate Mendelian randomization, incorporating Body Mass Index (BMI), to investigate the causal associations between the intake of these five types of meat and the occurrence of 23 cancer types. Results In univariate Mendelian randomization analyses, we identified causal relationships between Lamb/mutton intake and Prostate cancer, Non-oily fish intake and Lung adenocarcinoma, Non-oily fish intake and Cervical cancer, Oily fish intake and Prostate cancer, Pork intake and Colorectal cancer, Beef intake and Lung adenocarcinoma. Subsequently, incorporating BMI into multivariate Mendelian randomization analysis revealed causal associations between Beef intake and Lung adenocarcinoma (OR = 0.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.539–4.948, P-value < 0.001), as well as between Non-oily fish intake and Lung adenocarcinoma (OR = 0.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.192–0.866, P-value = 0.02). No causal relationships were observed between other meat intakes and cancer. Conclusions Our results suggest a causal relationship between Beef intake as a risk factor and Lung adenocarcinoma, while Non-oily fish intake, serving as a protective factor, is causally associated with a reduced risk of Lung adenocarcinoma. No significant causal relationships were observed between intake of other types of meat and cancer.