Metabolomics as a Tool to Understand Pathophysiological Processes

Methods Mol Biol. 2018:1730:3-28. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7592-1_1.

Abstract

Multiple diseases have a strong metabolic component, and metabolomics as a powerful phenotyping technology, in combination with orthogonal biological and clinical approaches, will undoubtedly play a determinant role in accelerating the understanding of mechanisms that underlie these complex diseases determined by a set of genetic, lifestyle, and environmental exposure factors. Here, we provide several examples of valuable findings from metabolomics-led studies in diabetes and obesity metabolism, neurodegenerative disorders, and cancer metabolism and offer a longer term vision toward personalized approach to medicine, from population-based studies to pharmacometabolomics.

Keywords: Cancer metabolism; Diabetes metabolism; Metabolomics; Neurodegenerative diseases; Obesity metabolism; Personalized medicine; Pharmacometabolomics; Population studies.

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers / analysis*
  • Data Mining
  • Diabetes Mellitus / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Metabolic Networks and Pathways
  • Metabolomics / methods*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / metabolism
  • Obesity / metabolism
  • Precision Medicine

Substances

  • Biomarkers