Multiassay nutritional metabolomics profiling of low vitamin A status versus adequacy is characterized by reduced plasma lipid mediators among lactating women in the Philippines: A pilot study

Catherine M. Johnson, Rodrigo Rosario, Alex Brito, Karan Agrawal, Rob Fanter, Georg Lietz, Marjorie Haskell, Reina Engle-Stone, John W. Newman, Michael R. La Frano

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Low vitamin A (VA) status is common among lactating women in low-income countries. Lactation has substantial effects on mother's metabolism and VA is required in multiple biological processes, including growth, vision, immunity, and reproduction. The objective of this pilot study was to use metabolomics profiling to conduct a broad, exploratory assessment of differences in plasma metabolites associated with low VA status versus VA adequacy in lactating women. Plasma samples from lactating women who participated in a survey in Samar, Philippines, were selected from a cross-sectional study based on plasma retinol concentrations indicating low (VA–; n = 5) or adequate (VA+; n = 5) VA status (plasma retinol <0.8 or >1.05 µmol/L). The plasma results collected from 6 metabolomics assays (oxylipins, endocannabinoids, bile acids, primary metabolomics, biogenic amines, and lipidomics) were compared by group using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Twenty-eight metabolites were altered in the VA– versus VA+ status groups, with 24 being lipid mediators (P < .05). These lipid mediators included lower concentrations of arachidonic acid- and eicosapentaenoic acid-derived oxylipins, as well as lysophospholipids and sphingolipids, in the VA– group (P < .05). Chemical similarity enrichment analysis identified hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acids, hydroxy-eicosapentaenoic acids, and dihydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acids as significantly altered oxylipin clusters (P < .0001, false discovery rate [FDR] P < .0001), as well as sphingomyelins, saturated lysophosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylcholines, and phosphatidylethanolamines (P < .001, FDR P < .01). The multiassay nutritional metabolomics profiling of low VA status compared with adequacy in lactating women was characterized by reduced lipid mediator concentrations. Future studies with stronger study designs and larger sample size are needed to confirm and validate these preliminary results.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)118-127
Number of pages10
JournalNutrition Research
Volume104
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2022
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Lipid mediators
  • Metabolomics
  • Micronutrient deficiencies
  • Nutritional metabolomics
  • Oxylipins
  • Vitamin A

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Endocrinology
  • Nutrition and Dietetics

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