Genetically Predicted Circulating Copper and Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease: A Mendelian Randomization Study

Elevated circulating copper levels have been associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD), kidney damage, and decline in kidney function. Using a two sample Mendelian randomization approach where copper-associated genetic variants were used as instrumental variables, genetically predicted higher circulating copper levels were associated with higher CKD prevalence (odds ratio 1.17; 95% confidence interval 1.04, 1.32; p-value = 0.009). There was suggestive evidence that genetically predicted higher copper was associated with a lower estimated glomerular filtration rate and a more rapid kidney damage decline. In conclusion, we observed that elevated circulating copper levels may be a causal risk factor for CKD.

Automated summary

This study suggests that elevated circulating copper levels may contribute to the development of chronic kidney disease. Using a genetic prediction approach, it was found that higher copper levels were associated with higher prevalence of CKD and decline in kidney function.