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Updated: Jun 4, 2026
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Semi-Targeted Ultra-High-Performance Chromatography Coupled to Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Phenolic Metabolites in Plasma of Elderly Adults
Published on: April 22, 2022
Plasma acylcarnitines are associated with physical performance in elderly men
Helen Lum1, Richard Sloane, Kim M Huffman
1Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology and Palliative Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, USA.
Summary
Higher acylcarnitine levels in older men are linked to poorer physical function. This metabolic profile may indicate underlying biological factors contributing to disability in aging populations.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Metabolomics
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Metabolic profiling offers insights into the biological basis of disability in older adults.
- Acylcarnitines, involved in fatty acid metabolism, are potential biomarkers for age-related functional decline.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between plasma acylcarnitine levels and physical performance in older men.
- To explore the utility of metabolic profiling in understanding age-related physical limitations.
Main Methods:
- Quantified 45 plasma acylcarnitines using targeted mass spectrometry in 77 older men (mean age 79).
- Applied principal components analysis to create a single "acylcarnitine factor" from 45 metabolites.
- Assessed the relationship between the acylcarnitine factor and various measures of physical performance.
Main Results:
- The acylcarnitine factor explained 40% of the variance in acylcarnitines, primarily driven by medium- and long-chain species.
- Higher acylcarnitine factor scores correlated with lower scores on the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and reduced gait speeds.
- Significant inverse relationships were observed between the acylcarnitine factor and SPPB total score, gait/chair stand components, and usual/maximal gait speeds (p < .05).
Conclusions:
- Elevated acylcarnitine factor scores are associated with diminished physical performance in older, overweight men.
- The observed metabolic profile mirrors findings in rodent models of lipid-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, suggesting a conserved biological mechanism.
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