Lipid Metabolites Linked to Atopic Dermatitis Risk

Key Takeaways

• 13 lipid-related metabolites show a causal relationship with atopic dermatitis risk, including specific cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
• A higher ratio linoleic acid to total fatty acids was protective against AD.

A two-sample Mendelian randomization (TSMR) study has identified 13 lipid-related metabolite traits that influence the risk of developing atopic dermatitis (AD).

Researchers examined genome-wide association study (GWAS) datasets to investigate 233 metabolite traits and their relationship to AD. Among these, 213 were lipid-related. The primary analysis employed the inverse-variance weighted method and four additional models to ensure robust results. The stability of the findings were confirmed via sensitivity analyses.

The authors identified several lipid-related metabolites, such as total cholesterol in very small VLDL and free cholesterol in IDL, as positively associated with AD. A ratio of 18:2 linoleic acid to total fatty acids was shown to have protective effects. Reverse Mendelian randomization analysis showed a decreased ratio of 18:2 linoleic acid to total fatty acids in individuals with AD.

"We identified 13 lipid-related metabolite traits with strong putative causal associations with AD," the authors wrote. "Our findings considerably decreased the effects of unavoidable confounders, reverse causality, and other variables. Our findings might impact AD treatment and offer insights into the processes underlying the disease’s onset and development."

Source: Chen J, et al. Clinical, Cosmetic, and Investigative Dermatology. 2025. Doi:10.2147/CCID.S484813