Mendelian Randomization Indicates a Causal Role for Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal system. Omega-3 (ω(3)) fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that are largely obtained from diet and have been speculated to decrease the inflammatory response that is involved in IBD; however, the causality of this association has not been established. A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) was used to assess genetic associations between 249 circulating metabolites measured in the UK Biobank as exposures and IBD as the outcome. The genome-wide association study summary level data for metabolite measurements and IBD were derived from large European ancestry cohorts. We observed ω(3) fatty acids as a significant protective association with IBD, with multiple modes of MR evidence replicated in three IBD summary genetic datasets. The instrumental variables that were involved in the causal association of ω(3) fatty acids with IBD highlighted an intronic SNP, rs174564, in FADS2, a protein engaged in the first step of alpha-linolenic acid desaturation leading to anti-inflammatory EPA and thence DHA production. A low ratio of ω(3) to ω(6) fatty acids was observed to be a causal risk factor, particularly for Crohn’s disease. ω(3) fatty acid supplementation may provide anti-inflammatory responses that are required to attenuate inflammation that is involved in IBD.