Novel strategies for clinical investigation and biomarker discovery: a guide to applied metabolomics

Abstract

Metabolomics is an emerging technology that is increasing both in basic science and in human applications, providing a physiological snapshot. It has been highlighted as one of the most wide ranging and reliable tools for the investigation of physiological status, the discovery of new biomarkers and the analysis of metabolic pathways. Metabolomics uses innovative mass spectrometry (MS) allied to chromatography or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The recent advances in bioinformatics, databases and statistics, have provided a unique perception of metabolites interaction and the dynamics of metabolic pathways at a system level. In this context, several studies have applied metabolomics in physiology- and disease-related works. The application of metabolomics includes, physiological and metabolic evaluation/monitoring, individual response to different exercise, nutritional interventions, pathological processes, responses to pharmacological interventions, biomarker discovery and monitoring for distinct aspects, such as: physiological capacity, fatigue/recovery and aging among other applications. For metabolomic analyses, despite huge improvements in the field, several complex methodological steps must be taken into consideration. In this regard, the present article aims to summarize the novel aspects of metabolomics and provide a guide for metabolomics for professionals related to physiologist and medical applications.

Metabolomic analysis coupled with extreme phenotype sampling identified that lysophosphatidylcholines are associated with multisite musculoskeletal pain

“…Metabolomics, an emerging and rapidly evolving field, has been highlighted as one of the broadest and more reliable tools for physiological status investigation, discovery of new biomarkers, and metabolic pathway analysis. 5 Metabolomics involves quantitative detection of a large number of small molecule metabolites in biological system, and their steady-state levels can be regarded as the ultimate response of biological systems to genotype, phenotype, and environment. 74 Metabolomics studies have identified metabolic markers associated with a number of diseases including cancer, 26 diabetes, 1 Alzheimer disease, 60 and cardiovascular diseases.…”

Metabolite Shifts Induced by Marathon Race Competition Differ between Athletes Based on Level of Fitness and Performance: A Substudy of the Enzy-MagIC Study

“…Interest in extreme sports events like (ultra-)marathons, ultratrails, and triathlons has risen, and includes participants who vary widely in performance capabilities and training volumes and regimens [1][2][3]. Advances in mass spectrometry (MS) during the past decade have allowed investigators to use targeted-and non-targeted metabolomics to better understand the metabolic response to intense and prolonged exercise [4][5][6][7][8][9]. These studies have shown that intense exercise of two hours duration and longer causes an extensive shift in hundreds of metabolites, especially those from the lipid biochemical pathway.…”

Enzymatic Methods for Salivary Biomarkers Detection: Overview and Current Challenges

“…The techniques used for the identification and biomarkers profiling vary in terms of operating principle, sample preparation, and results interpretation, on which the suitability of its implementation depends [20]. For instance, MS can measure hundreds to thousands of metabolites in widely varied samples such as tissues, blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, and saliva, being suitable for untargeted and targeted biomarker screening and profiling [21].…”