Abstract:
Objective To investigate the independent causal relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 25(OH)D3 and hypertension and to assess the mediating role of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in this relationship.
Methods Statistical data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were collected and a two-sample Mendelian randomization (TSMR) analysis was performed to test the causal association between 25(OH)D3 and hypertension. Additionally, a two-step mediation analysis was conducted to explore whether the potential association between 25(OH)D3 and hypertension was partially mediated through hsCRP.
Results The TSMR analysis showed that increased levels of 25(OH)D3 could reduce the risk of hypertension (OR=0.975, 95%CI 0.960–0.990, P=0.001). Additionally, 25(OH)D3 was negatively associated with hsCRP (OR=0.945, 95%CI 0.911−0.980, P=0.002), and hsCRP was positively associated with hypertension (OR=1.018, 95%CI 1.012−1.025, P=0.001). The mediation analysis further confirmed that hsCRP mediated the effect of 25(OH)D3 on hypertension risk, with an effect value of −0.001 (95%CI −0.002 to 0).
Conclusion There is a causal relationship between 25(OH)D3 and hypertension, with hsCRP playing a mediating role in this association.