Cited by 290Genetic Associations and EpidemiologyAdvanced Causal Inference TechniquesStatistical Methods in Epidemiology

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Mendel’s laws, Mendelian randomization and causal inference in observational data: substantive and nomenclatural issues

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Davey Smith, George, Holmes, Michael V., Davies, Neil M., Ebrahim, Shah·2020·European Journal of Epidemiology

DOI 10.1007/s10654-020-00622-7PMC PMC7125255

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Abstract

We respond to criticisms of Mendelian randomization (MR) by Mukamal, Stampfer and Rimm (MSR). MSR consider that MR is receiving too much attention and should be renamed. We explain how MR links to Mendel’s laws, the origin of the name and our lack of concern regarding nomenclature. We address MSR’s substantive points regarding MR of alcohol and cardiovascular disease, an issue on which they dispute the MR findings. We demonstrate that their strictures with respect to population stratification, confounding, weak instrument bias, pleiotropy and confounding have been addressed, and summarise how the field has advanced in relation to the issues they raise. We agree with MSR that “the hard problem of conducting high-quality, reproducible epidemiology” should be addressed by epidemiologists. However we see more evidence of confrontation of this issue within MR, as opposed to conventional observational epidemiology, within which the same methods that have demonstrably failed in the past are simply rolled out into new areas, leaving their previous failures unexamined.

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Additional file 9 of Assessing causal links between age at menarche and adolescent mental health: a Mendelian randomisation study
Askelund, A. D., Wootton, R. E., Torvik, F. A., Lawn, R. B., Ask, H., Corfield, E. C., Magnus, M. C., Reichborn-Kjennerud, T., Magnus, P. M., Andreassen, O. A., et al. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26705889
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Additional file 10 of Assessing causal links between age at menarche and adolescent mental health: a Mendelian randomisation study
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Additional file 3 of Assessing causal links between age at menarche and adolescent mental health: a Mendelian randomisation study
Askelund, A. D., Wootton, R. E., Torvik, F. A., Lawn, R. B., Ask, H., Corfield, E. C., Magnus, M. C., Reichborn-Kjennerud, T., Magnus, P. M., Andreassen, O. A., et al. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26705871
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Additional file 2 of Coffee consumption and periodontitis: a Mendelian Randomization study
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Additional file 6 of Assessing causal links between age at menarche and adolescent mental health: a Mendelian randomisation study
Askelund, A. D., Wootton, R. E., Torvik, F. A., Lawn, R. B., Ask, H., Corfield, E. C., Magnus, M. C., Reichborn-Kjennerud, T., Magnus, P. M., Andreassen, O. A., et al. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26705880
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Additional file 1 of Assessing causal links between age at menarche and adolescent mental health: a Mendelian randomisation study
Askelund, A. D., Wootton, R. E., Torvik, F. A., Lawn, R. B., Ask, H., Corfield, E. C., Magnus, M. C., Reichborn-Kjennerud, T., Magnus, P. M., Andreassen, O. A., et al. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.25596366
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Additional file 2 of Association between adiposity and facial aging: results from a Mendelian randomization study
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Additional file 4 of Coffee consumption and periodontitis: a Mendelian Randomization study
Liao, W.-Z., Zhou, Z., Lin, Z.-K., Xie, S., Zheng, Y.-F., Wang, J.-T., Zheng, J.-H., Chen, H.-K., Chen, W.-S., & Guo, X.-G. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26616199
Additional file 5 of Assessing causal links between age at menarche and adolescent mental health: a Mendelian randomisation study
Askelund, A. D., Wootton, R. E., Torvik, F. A., Lawn, R. B., Ask, H., Corfield, E. C., Magnus, M. C., Reichborn-Kjennerud, T., Magnus, P. M., Andreassen, O. A., et al. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26705877
Self-citation
Additional file 3 of Obstructive sleep apnea and mental disorders: a bidirectional mendelian randomization study
Liu, H., Wang, X., Feng, H., Zhou, S., Pan, J., Ouyang, C., & Hu, X. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26710730
Additional file 12 of Assessing causal links between age at menarche and adolescent mental health: a Mendelian randomisation study
Askelund, A. D., Wootton, R. E., Torvik, F. A., Lawn, R. B., Ask, H., Corfield, E. C., Magnus, M. C., Reichborn-Kjennerud, T., Magnus, P. M., Andreassen, O. A., et al. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26705898
Self-citation
Additional file 4 of Obstructive sleep apnea and mental disorders: a bidirectional mendelian randomization study
Liu, H., Wang, X., Feng, H. Y., Zhou, S., Pan, J., Ouyang, C., & Hu, X. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26710733
Additional file 4 of Assessing causal links between age at menarche and adolescent mental health: a Mendelian randomisation study
Askelund, A. D., Wootton, R. E., Torvik, F. A., Lawn, R. B., Ask, H., Corfield, E. C., Magnus, M. C., Reichborn-Kjennerud, T., Magnus, P. M., Andreassen, O. A., et al. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26705874
Self-citation
Additional file 13 of Assessing causal links between age at menarche and adolescent mental health: a Mendelian randomisation study
Askelund, A. D., Wootton, R. E., Torvik, F. A., Lawn, R. B., Ask, H., Corfield, E. C., Magnus, M. C., Reichborn-Kjennerud, T., Magnus, P. M., Andreassen, O. A., et al. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26705901
Self-citation
Additional file 6 of Coffee consumption and periodontitis: a Mendelian Randomization study
Liao, W.-Z., Zhou, Z., Lin, Z.-K., Xie, S., Zheng, Y.-F., Wang, J.-T., Zheng, J.-H., Chen, H.-K., Chen, W.-S., & Guo, X.-G. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26616205
Additional file 3 of Association between adiposity and facial aging: results from a Mendelian randomization study
Liu, M., & Feng, J. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26617648
Additional file 2 of Assessing causal links between age at menarche and adolescent mental health: a Mendelian randomisation study
Askelund, A. D., Wootton, R. E., Torvik, F. A., Lawn, R. B., Ask, H., Corfield, E. C., Magnus, M. C., Reichborn-Kjennerud, T., Magnus, P. M., Andreassen, O. A., et al. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.25596570
Self-citation
Association between thyroid diseases and autoimmune hepatitis: A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study
Zhang, Y., Xia, H., Yang, S., Wei, M., Liu, M., Mo, D., & Li, D. (2026) · Medicine · doi:10.1097/md.0000000000047312
Adiposity, Lifestyle Factors, and Dilated Cardiomyopathy: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study
Zhao, Z., Li, M., Li, J., & Lei, F. (2026) · Artery Research · doi:10.1007/s44200-025-00097-5
Introduction to genetics of skeletal and mineral metabolic diseases
Newey, P. J., Lovegrove, C. E., Howles, S., Whyte, M. P., & Thakker, R. V. (2026) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-13683-2.00015-3
Plasma lipidome mediates the causal effect of chronic hepatitis B on cirrhosis: A Mendelian randomization study
Xiao, B., Song, Q., Wang, Z., Huang, J., Liu, Y., Li, B., Zeng, Q., Deng, Y., Król, E., Khouri, R., et al. (2026) · Medicine · doi:10.1097/md.0000000000048252
Genetically predicted causal association between type 2 diabetes and heart failure: A two-sample Mendelian randomization study
Yang, X. Y., Wang, B. Q., & Wan, Q. (2026) · Medicine · doi:10.1097/md.0000000000042638
Genetic association between renal function and hearing loss: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study
Wang, J., Chen, X., Zhou, L., Liu, Y., Zhang, S., & Huang, H. (2026) · Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology · doi:10.1016/j.bjorl.2026.101850
The impact of alcohol consumption on bone mineral density: Insights from cross-sectional and Mendelian randomization studies
He, X., Lu, H., Ghatan, S., Li, J., Koromani, F., Medina‐Gómez, C., Zillikens, M., & Trajanoska, K. (2026) · Bone · doi:10.1016/j.bone.2026.117999
Association of genetically proxied cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibition with risk of intracranial aneurysms: a Mendelian randomization study
Gu, X.-L., Wen, X.-B., Ma, L., Wang, D., Li, Z.-Q., Chen, M.-S., & Ye, G.-F. (2026) · Neurosurgical review · doi:10.1007/s10143-026-04420-9
Does genetic liability for autism influence alcohol use?Preprint
Page, S., Easey, K., Sedgewick, F., Rai, D., & Stergiakouli, E. (2026) · medRxiv · doi:10.64898/2026.08.26.26360336
Bidirectional Mendelian randomisation reveals genetic associations between cancer and epilepsy subtypes
Cui, Y., Wang, Q., Mao, Y., Zhai, H., Yan, G., & Han, J. (2026) · All Life · doi:10.1080/26895293.2026.2733120

Authors: Davey Smith, G., Holmes, M. V., Davies, N. M., & Ebrahim, S.
Affiliations: University of Oxford (GB)
University of Bristol (GB)
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (GB)
ORCID: Davey Smith, George
Holmes, Michael V.
Davies, Neil M.
Ebrahim, Shah
Venue: European Journal of Epidemiology
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published: 2020-02
Volume: 35
Issue: 2
Pages: 99-111
ISSN: 0393-2990 (ISSN-L)
1573-7284
DOI: 10.1007/s10654-020-00622-7
PMC: PMC7125255
OpenAlex: W3012912937
Cited by: 287
References: 118
Citations by year: 2026: 19 · 2025: 44 · 2024: 112 · 2023: 36 · 2022: 37 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 8
FWCI: 16.24
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: hybrid
doi.org
Licence: cc-by
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 (tdm)
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 (vor, 51 d)
Locations: European Journal of Epidemiology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Explore Bristol Research (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
Funders: Medical Research Council (MC_UU_00011/1)
British Heart Foundation (FS/18/23/33512)
Topics: Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Advanced Causal Inference Techniques
Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Statistical Methods in Epidemiology
Keywords: Mendelian randomization, Mendel's laws, causal inference, observational data, nomenclature, alcohol consumption, cardiovascular disease, population stratification, confounding, weak instrument bias, pleiotropy
MeSH terms: Cardiovascular Diseases, Humans, Genetic Variation, Molecular Epidemiology, Mendelian Randomization Analysis, Genetic Pleiotropy

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Mendel’s laws, Mendelian randomization and causal inference in observational data: substantive and nomenclatural issues

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