Gill D, et al. - Researchers used Mendelian randomization in this study to determine how carotid intima-media thickness, carotid plaque, and venous thromboembolism are influenced by genetically determined iron status. From a genome-wide meta-analysis of 48,972 patients, they selected genetic instrumental variables for iron status. They used data from 71,128 and 48,434 participants to obtain genetic association estimates for carotid intima-media thickness and carotid plaque, respectively. They utilized data from a study including 7,507 cases and 52,632 controls to obtain estimates for venous thromboembolism. Like previous work, the protective impact of higher genetically determined iron status on the development of some forms of atherosclerotic disease with a tendency toward increasing the risk of thrombosis related to stasis of blood is suggested in this study.