Mendelian Randomization Analyses Explore the Relationship between Trace Elements and Prostate Cancer.

Background: Trace elements indeed play a significant role in the occurrence and development of cancers, but it remains ambiguous whether a causal relationship exists between trace elements and prostate cancer. This study employed Mendelian randomization analyses to investigate such a causal link between trace elements (Co, Fe, Mg, Se, and Zn) and prostate cancer.

Methods: The analyses primarily utilized the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method, supplemented by MR-Egger, weighted median, simple mode, and MR-PRESSO.

Results: The results of IVW (OR = 1.005, 95% CI: 1.001 - 1.009, p = 0.014) and MR-PRESSO (OR = 1.005, 95% CI: 1.002 - 1.008, p = 0.015) analyses demonstrated a significant causal effect of Mg on genetically predicted prostate cancer. However, the IVW analysis did not reveal any causal associations between prostate cancer and Co, Fe, Se, or Zn.

Conclusions: Our study provided compelling evidence of a causal relationship between magnesium and prostate cancer within the European population. Therefore, maintaining magnesium balance may emerge as a potent strategy for prostate cancer prevention.