Metabolomic Analysis Reveals Changes in Plasma Metabolites in Response to Acute Cold Stress and Their Relationships to Metabolic Health in Cold-Acclimatized Humans

Abstract

Cold exposure results in activation of metabolic processes required for fueling thermogenesis, potentially promoting improved metabolic health. However, the metabolic complexity underlying this process is not completely understood. We aimed to analyze changes in plasma metabolites related to acute cold exposure and their relationship to cold-acclimatization level and metabolic health in cold-acclimatized humans. Blood samples were obtained before and acutely after 10–15 min of ice-water swimming (<5 °C) from 14 ice-water swimmers. Using mass spectrometry, 973 plasma metabolites were measured. Ice-water swimming induced acute changes in 70 metabolites. Pathways related to amino acid metabolism were the most cold-affected and cold-induced changes in several amino acids correlated with cold-acclimatization level and/or metabolic health markers, including atherogenic lipid profile or insulin resistance. Metabolites correlating with cold-acclimatization level were enriched in the linoleic/α-linolenic acid metabolic pathway. N-lactoyl-tryptophan correlated with both cold-acclimatization level and cold-induced changes in thyroid and parathyroid hormones. Acute cold stress in cold-acclimatized humans induces changes in plasma metabolome that involve amino acids metabolism, while the linoleic and α-linolenic acid metabolism pathway seems to be affected by regular cold exposure. Metabolites related to metabolic health, thermogenic hormonal regulators and acclimatization level might represent prospective molecular factors important in metabolic adaptations to regular cold exposure.

Cold Exposure Induces Depot-Specific Alterations in Fatty Acid Composition and Transcriptional Profile in Adipose Tissues of Pigs

“…It is well known that cold exposure activates metabolic processes required to heat generation in plasma ( 44 ). KEGG enrichment analysis of our metabonomic results revealed that differential metabolites were abundant in lipid metabolism related processes including glycerophospholipid metabolism, fatty acid biosynthesis, α-linolenic acid metabolism, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids and linoleic acid metabolism suggested that lipid metabolism in porcine blood was active upon cold exposure.…”

PET/MRI-Evaluated Activation of Brown Adipose Tissue via Cold Exposure Impacts Lipid Metabolism

“…In terms of oxylipins, we discovered that the level of 9-HpODE after 120 min of CE was significantly higher in BAT(+) individuals. Kovaničová et al [ 13 ] examined changes in the plasma metabolome in humans after 10–15 min of ice-water swimming and found changes in 70 metabolites, the majority of which were amino acids. In the presented study, we did not observe changes in amino acids in response to CE; however, it should be noted that the procedures of CE were significantly different.…”

Stimulation of the Proteinaseproteinase Inhibitor System as a Result of Immersion Hypothermia [

“…Холод вважається найсильнішим анальгетиком. Плавання в холодній воді (ПХВ) може послабити стрес-реакцію [3][4][5][6]. Щотижневе плавання у відкритій (холодній) воді призводить до поліпшення настрою після кожного запливу [3,7], стійкого та поступо-вого зменшення симптомів депресії, а потім припинення прийому ліків [7].…”

“…Але занадто тривале перебування у зоні зниженої температури викликає деградацію клітин, зміни у роботі серцево-судинної, нервової, м'язової та імунної систем [1]. Спостерігають знижений системний вміст амінокислот, що пов'язують із пригніченням протеолізу або підвищеним поглинанням та використанням амінокислот тканинами [5].…”

“…Слід зазначити, що реакція на холод пов'язана з тривалістю плавання у крижаній воді (рівень акліматизації) [5,8,16]. Навіть у крижаній воді ймовірність переохолодження у дорослих не виникає протягом принаймні 30 хв [8].…”