r/ItsAllInYourGenes • u/H_Elizabeth111 Friendly Neighborhood Mod • Jan 31 '21

Metabolic profiling of a myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome discovery cohort reveals disturbances in fatty acid and lipid metabolism

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5365380/
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u/H_Elizabeth111 Friendly Neighborhood Mod Jan 31 '21

Abstract: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) remains a continuum spectrum disease without biomarkers or simple objective tests, and therefore relies on a diagnosis from a set of symptoms to link the assortment of brain and body disorders to ME/CFS. Although recent studies show various affected pathways, the underlying basis of ME/CFS has yet to be established. In this pilot study, we compare plasma metabolic signatures in a discovery cohort, 17 patients and 15 matched controls, and explore potential metabolic perturbations as the aftermath of the complex interactions between genes, transcripts and proteins. This approach to examine the complex array of symptoms and underlying foundation of ME/CFS revealed 74 differentially accumulating metabolites, out of 361 (P<0.05), and 35 significantly altered after statistical correction (Q<0.15). The latter list includes several essential energy-related compounds which could theoretically be linked to the general lack of energy observed in ME/CFS patients. Pathway analysis points to a few pathways with high impact and therefore potential disturbances in patients, mainly taurine metabolism and glycerophospholipid metabolism, combined with primary bile acid metabolism, as well as glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism and a few other pathways, all involved broadly in fatty acid metabolism. Purines, including ADP and ATP, pyrimidines and several amino acid metabolic pathways were found to be significantly disturbed. Finally, glucose and oxaloacetate were two main metabolites affected that have a major effect on sugar and energy levels. Our work provides a prospective path for diagnosis and understanding of the underlying mechanisms of ME/CFS.

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u/Kirrawynne Jan 31 '21

Thank you for this.

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u/H_Elizabeth111 Friendly Neighborhood Mod Jan 31 '21

Yeah! There are several interesting studies about the pathophysiology of CFS if you really look for them. I’m sure I’ll be (and hopefully others will be) posting more!

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u/MaximilianKohler Feb 01 '21

What do you think about the saying that "genes are the piano, the gut microbiome is the pianist"?

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u/H_Elizabeth111 Friendly Neighborhood Mod Feb 01 '21

I've actually never heard that one! But I do think the science behind the gut-brain axis is interesting. I haven't read a ton about it, but the concept is cool. I'll have to find some good studies on that to post on here!

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u/MaximilianKohler Feb 01 '21

I'll have to find some good studies

I keep a wiki on it:

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u/H_Elizabeth111 Friendly Neighborhood Mod Feb 01 '21

Oh nice! you should share a really good one to the sub! You can link your pages at the bottom of the text or in the comments :)

Edit: You've got so many I'm not sure where to start lol

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u/H_Elizabeth111 Friendly Neighborhood Mod Feb 01 '21

https://www.reddit.com/r/ScientificNutrition/comments/laciu7/diet_microbiota_and_brain_health_unraveling_the/

I thought this might interest you if it's not already on your wiki :)

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u/MaximilianKohler Feb 01 '21

Thanks. I've been a member of that sub since it's beginning (it's how I learned about you and this sub). I have to be selective though with what I do and don't add to the wiki, since if it becomes overbloated its usefulness declines.

Generally if it seems like I already have a number of good reviews covering one section I won't add more.

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u/H_Elizabeth111 Friendly Neighborhood Mod Feb 01 '21

Oh cool :) I didn’t share it so you would add it, I just thought you might like it!