Casual association between plasma CoQ10 levels and stroke: a mendelian randomization study

Xuyang Liu; Yuyuan Gao; Xiaojing Yao; Xu Li; Yuming Xu

doi:10.71321/f3e84374

Authors

Xuyang Liu Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
Yuyuan Gao Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
Xiaojing Yao The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
Xu Li Department of Endovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
Yuming Xu Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Cerebrovascular Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.71321/f3e84374

Keywords:

plasma CoQ10, ischemic stroke, small vessel stroke, cerebrovascular disease, mendelian randomization

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the causal relationship between plasma CoQ10 levels and stroke, as well as some cardiovascular diseases, using Mendelian randomization methods.

Methods: Causal links were investigated through two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. We identified genetic variants that showed significant associations with plasma CoQ10 levels. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was employed to estimate the effects. Additionally, sensitivity analysis was used to assess heterogeneity or pleiotropy.

Results: Our MR analysis revealed that genetically predicted plasma CoQ10 levels was inversely associated with of any stroke (AS, OR = 0.803, 95% CI: 0.659–0.978, p =0.029), any ischemic stroke (AIS, OR = 0.792, 95% CI 0.651–0.964, p = 0.020) and small vessel stroke (SVS, OR = 0.512, 95% CI 0.294-0.892, p = 0.018). However, no associations were observed between genetically predicted plasma CoQ10 and large artery stroke (LAS), cardioembolic stroke (CES), intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), atrial fibrillation (AF), myocardial infarction (MI) or heart failure (HF).

Conclusion: Our MR analysis implies a protective effect between higher plasma CoQ10 levels and AS, AIS or SVS. The results and the underlying pathways or mechanisms between plasma CoQ10 levels and stroke needs further investigation.

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