Fig. 1

The methodology of implementing a bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) examination. The sign " × " suggests that genomic changes are disconnected from confounding elements or do not directly affect the outcome. Rather, they wield their impact via the exposure pathway. A persistent line is indicative of a substantial link, while a discontinuous line shows no interrelation between the variables. SNP: single nucleotide polymorphism; UC, ulcerative colitis; CD, Crohn’s disease