LC/MS-Based Untargeted Metabolomics Analysis in Women with Morbid Obesity and Associated Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Obesity is a chronic and complex disease, with an increasing incidence worldwide that is associated with metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Thus, it is important to determine the differences between metabolically healthy obese individuals and those with metabolic disorders. The aim of this study was to perform an untargeted metabolomics assay in women with morbid obesity (MO) compared to a normal weight group, and to differentiate the metabolome of these women with MO who present with T2DM. We carried out a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based untargeted metabolomics assay using serum samples of 209 Caucasian women: 73 with normal weight and 136 with MO, of which 71 had T2DM. First, we found increased levels of choline and acylglycerols and lower levels of bile acids, steroids, ceramides, glycosphingolipids, lysophosphatidylcholines, and lysophosphatidylethanolamines in MO women than in the control group. Then, in MO women with T2DM, we found increased levels of glutamate, propionyl-carnitine, bile acids, ceramides, lysophosphatidylcholine 14:0, phosphatidylinositols and phosphoethanolamines, and lower levels of Phe-Ile/Leu. Thus, we found metabolites with opposite trends of concentration in the two metabolomic analyses. These metabolites could be considered possible new factors of study in the pathogenesis of MO and associated T2DM in women.

Automated summary

This study aimed to identify differences between metabolically healthy obese individuals and those with metabolic disorders by conducting a metabolomics analysis in women. The findings showed that women with morbid obesity had higher levels of choline and acylglycerols, and lower levels of bile acids, steroids, ceramides, glycosphingolipids, lysophosphatidylcholines, and lysophosphatidylethanolamines compared to the normal weight group. In women with morbid obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus, increased levels of glutamate, propionyl-carnitine, bile acids, ceramides, lysophosphatidylcholine 14:0, phosphatidylinositols, and phosphoethanolamines were found, along with lower levels of Phe-Ile/Leu. These metabolites may serve as new factors for further study on the pathogenesis of obesity and associated type 2 diabetes mellitus in women.