The SNPs used as instrumental variables for the thyroid-function related traits have been reported to be associated with other factors, such as height, age at menarche, obesity-related traits, serum lipids, blood metabolite levels and serum urate.12 However, considering the biological roles of thyroid hormones, these factors are more likely to act as mediators (known as the vertical pleiotropy) in the pathway from thyroid function to cancer, which will not bias our findings. This evidence concerns the gene TG and cancer.