• Weihui Qi, Zhenglin Mei, Xinning Mao, Li Zhu, Yinyan Shao, Guofen Ge, Wei Zhang, Hao Pan, and Dong Wang.
• Department of Orthopaedics, Hangzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310007, China.
• Eur Spine J. 2024 Jun 1; 33 (6): 243024382430-2438.

BackgroundSarcopenia (SP) and intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) have a higher incidence in the elderly population. Previous studies have indicated a potential association between SP and IVDD. The objective of this study is to elucidate the potential causal relationship between sarcopenia-related traits and IVDD through Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.MethodsWe utilized a genome-wide association study conducted on the European population to collect aggregated data on sarcopenia and IVDD. Inverse variance weighting was primarily employed, supplemented by MR Egger, weighted median, simple model, and weighted model methods. Additionally, sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the robustness of the findings.ResultsAppendicular lean mass is positively associated with "Other intervertebral disc disorders" (OIDD) and "Prolapsed or slipped disc" (POSD) (OIDD: p = 0.002, OR = 1.120; POSD: p < 0.001, OR = 1.003), while grip strength (GS) is positively associated with POSD (left: p = 0.004, OR = 1.008; right: p < 0.001, OR = 1.010). It is worth mentioning that walking pace has significant causal relationship with "Low back pain" (LBP), "Lower back pain or/and sciatica" (LBPOAS), "Sciatica with lumbago" (SWL) and OIDD (LBP: p < 0.001, OR = 0.204; LBPOAS: p < 0.001, OR = 0.278; SWL: p = 0.003, OR = 0.249; OIDD: p < 0.001, OR = 0.256).ConclusionThe present study revealed the causal relationship between SP-related traits and IVDD and recommended to prevent and treat sarcopenia as a means of preventing IVDD in clinic practice.© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

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