Metabolomic characterization of human pancreatitis by ¹H-NMR spectroscopy

¹H-NMR is a powerful approach of metabolomics. This study aimed to apply it to the profiling of serum metabolites in patients with pancreatitis, and to analyze the characteristic metabolites of pancreatitis.

Serum samples were taken from 17 pancreatitis patients and 23 healthy subjects and subjected to ¹H-NMR and principle component analysis to compare endogenous small-molecule metabolites.

3-hydroxybutyrate, trimethylamine-N-oxide, acetate and acetone levels were significantly lower in the pancreatitis group than in the control group. Isoleucine, acetylglycine, triglyceride and inosine levels were significantly higher in the pancreatitis group than in the control group.

¹H-NMR-based metabolomics is an effective method to investigate the small-molecule metabolites in the sera of patients with pancreatitis. Metabolites identified in this study may be exploited as metabolic markers for the early detection of pancreatitis.