Lipidomics, measuring many different bloodstream lipid levels, can predict the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) years in the future, according to a new study in PLOS Biology. Such early prediction through lipidomic profiling may provide the basis for recommending diet and lifestyle interventions before disease develops.
At present, patient history and current risk behaviours are the main predictors for T2D and CVD, along with high- and low-density cholesterol ratios and levels. But there are over one hundred other types of lipids in the blood, which are thought to at least partially reflect aspects of metabolism and homeostasis throughout the body.
Nowadays, it is possible to measure thousands of individual lipids that make up the lipidome. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry (NMR) metabolomics is also being increasingly used in large cohort studies to report on total levels of selected lipid classes, and relative levels of fatty acid saturation.
To find out if detailed lipid profiles could be better predictors, the authors drew on data and blood samples from a longitudinal health study of over 4000 middle-aged participants, first assessed from 1991 to 1994, with follow-up to 2015. Using baseline blood samples, the concentrations of 184 lipids were assessed. During the follow-up period, 13.8% of participants developed T2D, and 22% developed CVD.
The authors performed repeated training and testing on the data to create a risk model. Once the model was developed, individuals were clustered into one of six subgroups based on their lipidomics profile.
Compared to the group averages, the risk for T2D in the highest-risk group was 37%, an increase in risk of 168%. The risk for CVD in the highest-risk group was 40.5%, an increase in risk of 84%. Significant reductions in risk compared to the averages were also seen in the lowest-risk groups. The increased risk for either disease was independent of known genetic risk factors, and independent of the number of years until disease onset.
Rsk could be individually defined decades before disease onset, possibly in time to take steps to avert disease. Lipidomics could be combined with genetics and patient history to provide new insights into the beginnings of the disease. Additionally, new drug candidates could be identified from the lipids contributing the greatest risk.
“The lipidomic risk, which is derived from only one single mass-spectrometric measurement that is cheap and fast, could extend traditional risk assessment based on clinical assay,” said lead researcher Chris Lauber of Lipotype. “In addition, individual lipids in blood may be the consequences of or contribute to a wide variety of metabolic processes, which may be individually significant as markers of those processes. If that is true, Lauber said, “the lipidome may provide insights much beyond diabetes and cardiovascular disease risk.”
Lauber added: “Strengthening disease prevention is a global joint effort with many facets. We show how lipidomics can expand our toolkit for early detection of individuals at high risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.”
Source: EurekAlert!
