"Comprehensive Analysis of Circulating Metabolic Biomarkers Across the Genome"
A genome-wide association study involving 233 circulating metabolic traits in over 136,000 participants from 33 cohorts has identified more than 400 independent loci and assigned probable causal genes at two-thirds of these. The study highlights the importance of sample and participant characteristics on genetic associations and demonstrates substantial genetic pleiotropy for multiple metabolic pathways. Ancestry-stratified analyses show positive correlations across ethnic groups, and associations were strongly related to sample size. The study provides a foundational resource for examining the role of metabolism across diverse diseases and emphasizes the need for careful consideration of sample type and fasting status in interpreting results.