The impact of lymphocyte count on male erectile dysfunction with clinical validations and its potential metabolic mechanisms through mendelian randomization analysis

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is on the rise globally, affecting people’s lives. This article uses Mendelian randomization (MR) to analyze the causal relationship between clinical indicators and ED, and explores the potential metabolic mechanisms involved. Two-sample MR analysis was performed to analyze the causal relationships between 1,400 metabolites and clinical data and ED for revealing its potential metabolic mechanisms using GWAS (Genome-wide association studies) data. The stability of MR analysis was assessed using sensitivity analysis. We then used clinical data to confirm the MR analysis results. The research results indicated that elevated lymphocyte count (LC) can lead to ED risks. To confirm that LC and ED are causally related, we gathered clinical data. We further revealed potential metabolic mechanisms and found that LC can not only reduce the metabolite 4-methylcatechol sulfate levels, lowering the metabolite 4-methylcatechol sulfate levels to increase the risk of ED, and can also increase the metabolite X-24801 levels, raising the metabolite X-24801 levels to increase the risk of ED. A rise in LC could raise the risks of ED by negatively regulating the metabolite 4-methylcatechol sulfate levels and positively controlling the metabolite X-24801 levels.HighlightsThis article uses Mendelian randomization analysis to determine the causal relationship between lymphocyte count and erectile dysfunction, and uses sensitivity analysis to determine its stabilityRevealed the potential mechanism by which lymphocyte count increases the risk of erectile dysfunctionCollecting clinical data validated the results of Mendelian randomization analysisAt present, the methods and efficacy of treating erectile dysfunction in clinical practice are limited. This study provides new ideas for clinical diagnosis and treatment of erectile dysfunction. This article uses Mendelian randomization analysis to determine the causal relationship between lymphocyte count and erectile dysfunction, and uses sensitivity analysis to determine its stability Revealed the potential mechanism by which lymphocyte count increases the risk of erectile dysfunction Collecting clinical data validated the results of Mendelian randomization analysis At present, the methods and efficacy of treating erectile dysfunction in clinical practice are limited. This study provides new ideas for clinical diagnosis and treatment of erectile dysfunction.