Metabolite profiles and the risk of developing diabetes

Thomas J. Wang, Martin G. Larson, Ramachandran S. Vasan, Susan Cheng, Eugene P. Rhee, Elizabeth McCabe, Gregory D. Lewis, Caroline S. Fox, Paul F. Jacques, Céline Fernandez, Christopher J. O'Donnell, Stephen A. Carr, Vamsi K. Mootha, Jose C. Florez, Amanda Souza, Olle Melander, Clary B. Clish, Robert E. Gerszten

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2328 Scopus citations

Abstract

Emerging technologies allow the high-throughput profiling of metabolic status from a blood specimen (metabolomics). We investigated whether metabolite profiles could predict the development of diabetes. Among 2,422 normoglycemic individuals followed for 12 years, 201 developed diabetes. Amino acids, amines and other polar metabolites were profiled in baseline specimens by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Cases and controls were matched for age, body mass index and fasting glucose. Five branched-chain and aromatic amino acids had highly significant associations with future diabetes: isoleucine, leucine, valine, tyrosine and phenylalanine. A combination of three amino acids predicted future diabetes (with a more than fivefold higher risk for individuals in top quartile). The results were replicated in an independent, prospective cohort. These findings underscore the potential key role of amino acid metabolism early in the pathogenesis of diabetes and suggest that amino acid profiles could aid in diabetes risk assessment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)448-453
Number of pages6
JournalNature medicine
Volume17
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2011
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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