The metabolic signature of cardiorespiratory fitness: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

IntroductionA low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is a strong and independent predictor of cardiometabolic, cancer and all-cause mortality. To date, the mechanisms linking CRF with reduced mortality remain largely unknown. Metabolomics, which is a powerful metabolic phenotyping technology to unravel molecular mechanisms underlying complex phenotypes, could elucidate how CRF fosters human health.Methods and analysisThis study aims at systematically reviewing and meta-analysing the literature on metabolites of any human tissue sample, which are positively or negatively associated with CRF. Studies reporting estimated CRF will not be considered. No restrictions will be placed on the metabolomics technology used to measure metabolites. PubMed, Web of Science and EMBASE will be searched for relevant articles published until the date of the last search. Two authors will independently screen full texts of selected abstracts. References and citing articles of included articles will be screened for additional relevant publications. Data regarding study population, tissue samples, analytical technique, quality control, data processing, metabolites associated to CRF, cardiopulmonary exercise test protocol and exercise exhaustion criteria will be extracted. Methodological quality will be assessed using a modified version of QUADOMICS. Narrative synthesis as well as tabular/charted presentation of the extracted data will be included. If feasible, meta-analyses will be used to investigate the associations between identified metabolites and CRF. Potential sources of heterogeneity will be explored in meta-regressions.Ethics and disseminationNo ethics approval is required. The results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and as conference presentation.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020214375.

The Metabolic Signature of Cardiorespiratory Fitness: A Systematic Review

“…None of the included metabolites fulfilled the criteria, previously described in the review protocol, to be meta-analyzed [ 28 ]. Metabolites had (1) to be detected in the same tissue, (2) using the same metabolomics approach (untargeted, semi-targeted, or targeted), (3) in at least three different studies, and (4) to be identified on a level 1 identification according to the Metabolomics Standards Initiative to be meta-analyzed [ 28 , 56 ].…”

“…The research question was formulated according to the Population, Exposure, Comparison, Outcome, Study Type framework (Electronic Supplementary Material [ESM]) [ 27 ]. The review was registered on PROSPERO (registration number CRD42020214375) on 14 November, 2020 and a protocol was published [ 28 ].…”

“…An update search was run on 3 June, 2021. The detailed search strings can be found in the ESM and in the review protocol [ 28 ].…”

The Importance of Lipidomic Approach for Mapping and Exploring the Molecular Networks Underlying Physical Exercise: A Systematic Review

“…In the last past decade, thanks to the progress that has been achieved as far as mass spectrometry is concerned, an increasing number of lipidomic-based studies investigated the lipid trajectories correlated to different types of exercise [5,7,[79][80][81][82]. In addition, bioinformatics provided strong support, as it is able to improve the overall understanding of the body's lipidome response to exercise [83].…”

Effect of an eight-week high-intensity interval training programme on circulating sphingolipid levels in middle-aged adults at elevated cardiometabolic risk (SphingoFIT)—Protocol for a randomised controlled exercise trial

“…In that way, exercise training could reverse pathological sphingolipid accumulation. This hypothesis is supported by the fact that circulating sphingolipids have been reported to be negatively associated with cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), a potent health marker [ 33 , 34 ]. A preliminary study suggested regular exercise could mitigate sphingolipid levels [ 35 ].…”