Postpartum metabolomics profile predicts 8-years postdelivery women's subclinical atherosclerosis measures

This study evaluates women's metabolomics profiles and subclinical measures of atherosclerosis. Pregnant women (< 20 weeks' gestation) living in Mexico City, Mexico, were recruited in 2007-2011 to the PROGRESS cohort. Serum untargeted metabolomics data at 1-month postpartum were analyzed using chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS), and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) was measured 8-years postdelivery using B-mode ultrasound. A metabolome-wide association study was conducted to identify metabolites associated with CIMT measures, adjusting for age, education, pre-pregnancy BMI, and smoking exposure. Class-and pathway-based enrichment analysis was performed. Metabolites of the superclasses lipids, organic acids, oxygen compounds, benzenoids and organoheterocyclic compounds were significantly associated with CIMT. The associations included relevant lipid-like metabolites such as 9S- and 13S-HODE, sphinganine-1-phosphate, the branched-chain amino acid 3-Methyl-2-Oxovaleric acid, and the benzenoid phenylpyruvic acid. The related biological pathways included regulation of white adipocyte differentiation, PPARalpha activation of gene expression, and regulation of lipid metabolism. Several metabolites at early postpartum were associated with 8-years postdelivery CIMT. These results highlight the potential of metabolomics as early markers for long-term women´s cardiovascular health.