A Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Study of Tea‐Drinking Habits and Risk of Elevated Serum Uric Acid Levels

BACKGROUND: Although recent animal experiments have revealed that tea intake improves elevated serum uric acid (SUA) levels, a causal link between the consumption of different types of tea and SUA levels remains undetermined. METHODS: Bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis based on genome-wide association studies was used to assess the causal relationship between consumption of different types of tea and the risk of elevated SUA levels in European and Asian populations. RESULTS: -0.0440) suggests that for every 1-unit increase in tea intake, there is a 0.044-unit decrease in SUA levels. However, there is no reverse causality between SUA and tea intake (p = 0.2824). No causal relationship was found between the consumption of different types of tea and risk of elevated SUA levels (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Although this bidirectional MR study provided evidence of a causal relationship between tea intake and SUA levels, however, due to limitations associated with the sample size and strength of instrumental variables, a definite conclusion was not possible.