What is metabolomics and why is it important?
There metabolomics is the study of chemicals in our bodily fluids (such as urine or blood), calls metabolites, which arise from the functioning of the body. A recent study has analyzed 1,400 metabolites to understand if some of them are connected to the depression. Researchers have found that various metabolites they can increase or reduce the risk of depression. For example, substances such as N6-acetyl-lysine they seem protect us from disease, while others, such as the LysoPE(18:0/0:0), they can favor its onset. These findings suggest that analyzing metabolites could help better understand what causes depression.
The body’s pathways involved in depression
The metabolites found are linked to important pathways of the body, like the fat digestion, the energy production, the defense against oxidative stress and the brain function. Some metabolites also influence the immune system and the intestinal microbiota, elements that more and more research links to mental health. These findings show that depression is not only dependent on emotional or brain chemical factors, but also on how the body works at a metabolic level.
New possibilities for diagnosis and treatment
Thanks to the metabolomics, we could diagnose depression before it occurs, simply by analyzing urine or blood. Furthermore, we could personalize care based on the metabolites present in each person. The study also opens new avenues for developing drugs that act on specific metabolic processes, improving outcomes and reducing side effects. In summary, metabolomics is a new and promising tool for understand, prevent and better treat depression.
For further information:
Dong T, Wang X, Jia Z, Yang J, Liu Y. Assessing the associations of 1,400 blood metabolites with major depressive disorder: a Mendelian randomization study. Front Psychiatry. 2024 Jun 6;15:1391535. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1391535. eCollection 2024.