Frontiers in Endocrinology (Jun 2024)

Metabolic signatures and risk of sarcopenia in suburb-dwelling older individuals by LC-MS–based untargeted metabonomics

  • Peipei Han,
  • Peipei Han,
  • Peipei Han,
  • Xiaoyu Chen,
  • Zhenwen Liang,
  • Yuewen Liu,
  • Xing Yu,
  • Peiyu Song,
  • Yinjiao Zhao,
  • Hui Zhang,
  • Shuyan Zhu,
  • Xinyi Shi,
  • Qi Guo,
  • Qi Guo,
  • Qi Guo

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2024.1308841
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15

Abstract

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BackgroundUntargeted metabonomics has provided new insight into the pathogenesis of sarcopenia. In this study, we explored plasma metabolic signatures linked to a heightened risk of sarcopenia in a cohort study by LC-MS-based untargeted metabonomics.MethodsIn this nested case–control study from the Adult Physical Fitness and Health Cohort Study (APFHCS), we collected blood plasma samples from 30 new-onset sarcopenia subjects (mean age 73.2 ± 5.6 years) and 30 healthy controls (mean age 74.2 ± 4.6 years) matched by age, sex, BMI, lifestyle, and comorbidities. An untargeted metabolomics methodology was employed to discern the metabolomic profile alterations present in individuals exhibiting newly diagnosed sarcopenia.ResultsIn comparing individuals with new-onset sarcopenia to normal controls, a comprehensive analysis using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) identified a total of 62 metabolites, predominantly comprising lipids, lipid-like molecules, organic acids, and derivatives. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis indicated that the three metabolites hypoxanthine (AUC=0.819, 95% CI=0.711–0.927), L-2-amino-3-oxobutanoic acid (AUC=0.733, 95% CI=0.598–0.868) and PC(14:0/20:2(11Z,14Z)) (AUC= 0.717, 95% CI=0.587–0.846) had the highest areas under the curve. Then, these significant metabolites were observed to be notably enriched in four distinct metabolic pathways, namely, “purine metabolism”; “parathyroid hormone synthesis, secretion and action”; “choline metabolism in cancer”; and “tuberculosis”.ConclusionThe current investigation elucidates the metabolic perturbations observed in individuals diagnosed with sarcopenia. The identified metabolites hold promise as potential biomarkers, offering avenues for exploring the underlying pathological mechanisms associated with sarcopenia.

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