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. 2017 Sep 11;7:11207. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-09552-z

Figure 1.

Figure 1

Possible relationships between a SNP, a CpG site and triglyceride levels. The SNP is assumed to act on the methylation levels at the CpG site: (a) The SNP can cause variation independently in the level of methylation and triglycerides (common cause); (b) The CpG site can be on the pathway between the SNP and triglyceride levels. In this case, the SNP is expected to be associated with triglyceride levels; (c) The methylation change can be the consequence of the triglyceride levels variation (reverse causation). Reverse causation can be inferred with a genetic variant (SNPtg) associated with triglyceride levels.