Summary
This consensus guideline, authored by leading epidemiological geneticists, establishes best-practice standards for Mendelian randomization (MR) investigations — a causal inference method using genetic variants as instrumental variables. The paper provides structured guidance across nine domains: motivation and scope, data sources, variant selection, harmonization, primary and sensitivity analyses, data presentation, and interpretation. The guidelines are designed to support practitioners in conducting rigorous MR analyses and to assist journal editors and peer reviewers in assessing manuscript quality, with periodic updates planned at least every 18 months to reflect methodological advances.
UK applicability
These methodological guidelines are universally applicable and directly relevant to UK-based epidemiological and genetic research institutions, funding bodies (including UK Research and Innovation), and journals publishing genetic association studies. The framework supports harmonised standards for causal inference studies that may inform UK health policy and nutrition research.
Key measures
Not applicable — this is a methodological guideline document rather than an empirical study
Outcomes reported
The paper does not report empirical outcomes from a study but rather provides methodological guidelines. It presents a comprehensive framework for practitioners, editors and reviewers conducting or assessing Mendelian randomization investigations, covering design, analysis, sensitivity testing, and interpretation standards.
Topic tags
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