Conclusions
Among adults with CMDs, more metabolomic features differed after a meal challenge, which reflected lower metabolic flexibility relative to individuals without CMDs.
Objective
We compared metabolic flexibility following consumption of a standardized meal challenge among adults with or without CMDs. Design setting and participants: Study participants (n = 349; age 37-54 years, 55% female) received a standardized meal challenge (520 kcal, 67.4 g carbohydrates, 24.3 g fat, 8.0 g protein; 259 mL). Blood samples were collected at baseline and 2 hours postchallenge. Plasma samples were assayed by high-resolution, nontargeted metabolomics with dual-column liquid chromatography and ultrahigh-resolution mass spectrometry. Metabolome-wide associations between features and meal challenge timepoint were assessed in multivariable linear regression models.
Results
Sixty-five percent of participants had ≥1 of 4 CMDs: 33% were obese, 6% had diabetes, 39% had hypertension, and 50% had metabolic syndrome. Log2-normalized ratios of feature peak areas (postprandial:fasting) clustered separately among participants with versus without any CMDs. Among participants with CMDs, the meal challenge altered 1756 feature peak areas (1063 reversed-phase [C18], 693 hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography [HILIC]; all q < 0.05). In individuals without CMDs, the meal challenge changed 1383 feature peak areas (875 C18; 508 HILIC; all q < 0.05). There were 108 features (60 C18; 48 HILIC) that differed by the meal challenge and CMD status, including dipeptides, carnitines, glycerophospholipids, and a bile acid metabolite (all P < 0.05). Conclusions: Among adults with CMDs, more metabolomic features differed after a meal challenge, which reflected lower metabolic flexibility relative to individuals without CMDs.