Unveiling the Mystery: Investigating the Debate Surrounding Helicobacter pylori Infection and Multiple Sclerosis Using Mendelian Randomization Analysis

Abstract

Background Many studies have explored the association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and multiple sclerosis (MS), but there is significant controversy in the results, and a unified conclusion has not yet been reached. Methods In order to calculate the causal relationship between H. pylori and MS, we employed a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Genetic instruments for MS from FinnGen were used as the training cohort, and the MS dataset from the International Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Consortium was used as the validation cohort. Additionally, genome-wide association study (GWAS) data for 7 H. pylori antibody levels were obtained from previous literature. MR analysis was primarily carried out using the Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW) method, supported by four other validation approaches, to explore the association between H. pylori infection and MS. Results After our comprehensive investigation, no significant causal relationship between H. pylori infection and MS was found in either the training or validation cohorts (IVW, P >0.05). Similarly, the reverse MR analysis also yielded negative results (IVW, P > 0.05). Conclusions Our analysis revealed no causal relationship between H. pylori infection and MS.