Nutrition, diet and health: examining causal associations and gene-environment interactions

Using approaches from observational and genetic epidemiology, we propose to examine causal effects and gene-environment interactions affecting the way diet, obesity, or other nutritional factors affect health. The project has a specific focus on obesity and vitamin D, but it will also look at coffee, alcohol, and other components affecting nutritional intakes. Diet and nutritional status have a fundamental influence on health, and we will look at influences on aging, endocrinological, cardiovascular, metabolic and musculoskeletal health. This study will establish new disease prevention strategies, and inform on the way we can overcome disease inducing genetic vulnerabilities by lifestyle choices. This study will aim to establish new disease prevention strategies, and inform on the way we can overcome disease inducing genetic vulnerabilities by lifestyle choices. This study will use observational and genetic epidemiological approaches using existing information. We will conduct Mendelian randomisation (MR) analyses using genetic proxy markers for variations in nutritional exposures to evaluate the causal effects on the outcome. Analyses will be bi-directional where direction of association is not known, and network MR analyses will be conducted to establish causal pathways. Gene-environment interaction analyses will be conducted to establish effect modification by dietary and nutritional indicators in the way genes affect health. Full cohort