The Association Between Musculoskeletal Pain and Circulating Ornithine: A Population-Based Study

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Clinical Medicine
• Pain Research

Background:

• Musculoskeletal pain is a significant health concern.
• Previous studies suggest potential differences in amino acid levels in pain conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate ornithine levels in individuals with persistent musculoskeletal pain compared to those without pain.
• To explore associations between ornithine concentration and pain status.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 221 adults with nonpersistent pain, 76 with persistent pain, and 61 pain-free controls.
• Analysis of amino acid concentrations, including ornithine, using mass spectrometry.
• Statistical analysis adjusted for various confounding factors such as age, BMI, and smoking status.

Main Results:

• Significantly higher ornithine concentrations were observed in both men and women with persistent pain compared to pain-free individuals.
• Adjusted analysis confirmed that sex-specific ornithine concentration was associated with pain, being higher in the persistent pain group.
• No significant differences in other investigated amino acids were found between pain groups.

Conclusions:

• Ornithine levels are elevated in the general population experiencing persistent pain.
• Ornithine may serve as a potential biomarker for persistent pain.