Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34104963›Full record

ArticleHuman molecular genetics2021

Assessing the impact of alcohol consumption on the genetic contribution to mean corpuscular volume.

Andrew Thompson, Katharine King, Andrew P Morris, Munir Pirmohamed

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Human molecular genetics, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
1.5field-weighted citation impact, top 18% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 11 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Mean Corpuscular Volume inJournal of hematology · 2026
    Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Andrew ThompsonWolfson Centre for Personalised Medicine, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GL, UK.
Katharine KingWolfson Centre for Personalised Medicine, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GL, UK.
Andrew P MorrisDivision of Musculoskeletal and Dermatological Sciences, Centre for Genetics and Genomics Versus Arthritis, Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
Munir PirmohamedWolfson Centre for Personalised Medicine, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GL, UK.
University of Liverpool · GBUniversity of Manchester · GB

Funding

Medical Research Council MC_PC_17228Medical Research Council MC_QA137853Medical Research Council MR/L006758/1Medical Research Council MR/S000607/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The relationship between the genetic loci that influence mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and those associated with excess alcohol drinking is unknown. We used white British participants from the UK Biobank (n = 362 595) to assess the association between alcohol consumption and MCV, and whether this was modulated by genetic factors. Multivariable regression was applied to identify predictors of MCV. GWAS, with and without stratification for alcohol consumption, determined how genetic variants influence MCV. SNPs in ADH1B, ADH1C and ALDH1B were used to construct a genetic score to test the assumption that acetaldehyde formation is an important determinant of MCV. Additional investigations using Mendelian randomization and phenome-wide association analysis were conducted. Increasing alcohol consumption by 40 g/week resulted in a 0.30% [95% confidence interval CI: 0.30-0.31%] increase in MCV (P < 1.0 × 10-320). Unstratified (irrespective of alcohol intake) GWAS identified 212 loci associated with MCV, of which 108 were novel. There was no heterogeneity of allelic effects by drinking status. No association was found between MCV and the genetic score generated from alcohol metabolizing genes. Mendelian randomization demonstrated a causal effect for alcohol on MCV. Seventy-one SNP-outcome pairs reached statistical significance in phenome-wide association analysis, with evidence of shared genetic architecture for MCV and thyroid dysfunction, and mineral metabolism disorders. MCV increases linearly with alcohol intake in a causal manner. Many genetic loci influence MCV, with new loci identified in this analysis that provide novel biological insights. However, there was no interaction between alcohol consumption and the allelic variants associated with MCV.

Indexed as

Alcohol DrinkingGenetic Association StudiesHealth Impact AssessmentQuantitative Trait, HeritableQuantitative Trait LociAgedAllelesErythrocyte IndicesFemaleGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseGenome-Wide Association StudyHumansMaleMendelian Randomization AnalysisMetabolic Networks and PathwaysMiddle Aged

Identifiers

PMID34104963
PMCPMC8522631
OpenAlexW3171847055

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.