All articles tagged with #metabolomics
Scientists have successfully extracted and analyzed metabolic molecules from 3-million-year-old fossilized bones, revealing insights into the diets, health, and environments of prehistoric animals, including evidence of ancient diseases and climate conditions, marking a breakthrough in paleontological research.
Ghanaian scientist Moses Mayonu is pioneering metabolomics research at Florida Tech, integrating advanced techniques and AI to improve disease diagnosis and personalized medicine, while also contributing to Africa's scientific development and capacity building.
This study mapped over 1.4 million associations between plasma metabolites and a wide range of human phenotypes in 274,241 UK Biobank participants, revealing metabolic signatures linked to diseases, traits, and aging, and identifying potential causal relationships and biomarkers for personalized risk assessment and intervention.
Researchers from Oxford have developed a novel AEC-MS method for large-scale analysis of polar and ionic metabolites in biological samples, enhancing capabilities in metabolomics research and enabling new applications in health and disease studies.
A new NIH study introduces a blood and urine test that uses molecular fingerprints to accurately measure ultra-processed food consumption, offering a more objective alternative to traditional dietary surveys and enabling better understanding of diet-related health risks.
A study from the University of Eastern Finland explores how cannabis use affects metabolomic patterns linked to psychotic-like experiences in adolescents. It found that non-cannabis users showed inflammatory metabolic changes, while cannabis users exhibited shifts in energy-related metabolites. These findings suggest cannabis may trigger distinct molecular pathways in psychotic-like experiences, offering insights into precision psychiatry and the biological underpinnings of mental health disorders. The study highlights the potential for tailored approaches in understanding and treating psychiatric conditions.
A genome-wide association study involving 233 circulating metabolic traits in over 136,000 participants from 33 cohorts has identified more than 400 independent loci and assigned probable causal genes at two-thirds of these. The study highlights the importance of sample and participant characteristics on genetic associations and demonstrates substantial genetic pleiotropy for multiple metabolic pathways. Ancestry-stratified analyses show positive correlations across ethnic groups, and associations were strongly related to sample size. The study provides a foundational resource for examining the role of metabolism across diverse diseases and emphasizes the need for careful consideration of sample type and fasting status in interpreting results.
Excess niacin metabolism was found to be associated with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), with two breakdown products, 2PY and 4PY, showing a strong link to myocardial infarction, stroke, and other adverse cardiac events. The study suggests that niacin supplementation may require a more nuanced, titrated approach to avoid excess 4PY generation, which is associated with increased MACE risk. The findings highlight the potential impact of niacin levels on cardiovascular health and the need for careful consideration of niacin supplementation.
Scientists in the Philippines have conducted a study on Stichopus cf. horrens, a sea cucumber species known for its unique characteristics. The research revealed that these sea cucumbers contain several compounds, including potential anti-cancer agents, that could have medical benefits for humans. While cautioning against rushing to use these compounds for cancer treatment, the study opens the door for further research and extraction of these compounds for study. The team is also exploring ways to sustainably grow these sea cucumbers for future research and investigating other compounds that could shed light on the cucumber's defense mechanisms.
Researchers from the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of California San Diego have developed a technique called reverse metabolomics to identify chemical structures in the human body. By analyzing mass spectrometry data, the researchers were able to map the metabolic pathways of various compounds, including those produced by the human microbiome. This approach has the potential to advance our understanding of human health and disease, as well as aid in the discovery of new therapeutic targets.
A new study suggests that consuming avocados may improve blood sugar control for some individuals, leading to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. The study identified a metabolic biomarker associated with avocado intake, which was linked to decreased fasting glucose and insulin levels. However, the correlation between avocado consumption and lower fasting insulin became nonsignificant when body mass index (BMI) was considered. The findings highlight the potential of personalized nutrition and metabolomics in identifying foods that can benefit an individual's health. Avocados are rich in fiber and monounsaturated fatty acids, which can help regulate blood sugar levels.
Researchers are utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) techniques to accelerate the discovery of new drugs from natural products. By integrating genomics, metabolomics, and structural analysis, AI algorithms can predict and classify unknown metabolites, identify biosynthetic gene clusters, and improve the annotation of molecular structures. These advancements in AI-driven drug discovery have the potential to revolutionize the field and expedite the development of novel pharmaceuticals.
A new study published in Nutrients has found high concentrations of S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) in human breast milk, suggesting it may be a crucial nutrient for infant growth and development. SAMe is required for most transmethylation reactions, including the biosynthesis of phosphatidylcholine, an important metabolite in breast milk for neurodevelopment. The study also suggests the need to further investigate the role of SAMe in breast milk and opens opportunities to discuss a revision of milk formula compositions. Breastfeeding mothers may use oral SAMe supplementation to reduce the risk of post-partum depression.