In light of the MR-Egger regression findings (Table 2), we found no evidence against directional pleiotropy for the associations between genetically determined inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase (odds [intercept]: 1.00; P = 0.52), NPC1L1 (odds [intercept]: 1.03; P = 0.64), and PCSK9 (odds [intercept]: 0.99; P = 0.09) and the risk of prostate cancer (Additional file 1: Table S4). The gene discussed is NPC1L1; the disease is prostate carcinoma.