Metabolomics as a diagnostic tool in gastroenterology
Researched by:
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Karen Pendergrass
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Karen Pendergrass
Karen Pendergrass is a microbiome researcher specializing in microbiome-targeted interventions (MBTIs). She systematically analyzes scientific literature to identify microbial patterns, develop hypotheses, and validate interventions. As the founder of the Microbiome Signatures Database, she bridges microbiome research with clinical practice. In 2012, based on her own investigative research, she became the first documented case of FMT for Celiac Disease—four years before the first published case study.
Fact-checked by:
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Karen Pendergrass
ID
Karen Pendergrass
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Karen Pendergrass
Researched by:
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Karen Pendergrass
ID
Karen Pendergrass
Fact-checked by:
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Karen Pendergrass
ID
Karen Pendergrass
Microbiome Signatures identifies and validates condition-specific microbiome shifts and interventions to accelerate clinical translation. Our multidisciplinary team supports clinicians, researchers, and innovators in turning microbiome science into actionable medicine.
Karen Pendergrass
doi: doi:10.4292/wjgpt.v4.i4.97
New title: Metabolomics as a Diagnostic Tool in Gastroenterology: Insights into IBD and IBS
What Was Reviewed?
This review explored the application of metabolomics as a diagnostic tool in gastroenterology, with a focus on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The review discussed how metabolomics integrates gene regulation, post-transcriptional control, and pathway interactions to create molecular readouts that reflect physiological phenotypes. Additionally, it highlighted the role of the gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of these gastrointestinal disorders, emphasizing dysbiosis and its impact on host-microbiota co-metabolism. Metabolomics was positioned as a promising method for identifying biomarker metabolites from biofluids like feces, urine, and serum to differentiate health from disease and stratify patient subtypes.
Who Was Reviewed?
The review synthesized findings from various studies investigating human patients with gastrointestinal conditions, including Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and IBS. It also incorporated comparative analyses between healthy controls and diseased individuals using metabolomics-based methodologies such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR).
What Were the Most Important Findings?
The review identified significant dysbiosis in patients with IBD and IBS, characterized by altered microbiota composition and metabolic activity. Metabolomics revealed the depletion of beneficial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and increased levels of pro-inflammatory metabolites like indole derivatives in IBD patients. Elevated amino acids, taurine, and cadaverine distinguished ulcerative colitis from healthy controls. In IBS, metabolomics detected higher concentrations of esters and phenolic compounds linked to altered gut microbial populations, including lactobacilli and Clostridium. Urinary hippurate was consistently lower in IBD patients, suggesting its potential as a biomarker. The integration of metabolomic data with microbiome profiling demonstrated a robust correlation, providing insights into host-microbiota metabolic interactions.
What Are the Greatest Implications of This Review?
This review underscores the potential of metabolomics to revolutionize diagnostics and therapeutic strategies in gastroenterology. By identifying condition-specific metabolic signatures, clinicians can develop less invasive diagnostic tools and refine patient stratification for personalized treatment approaches. The findings also emphasize the need for validation studies and integration of metabolomics with other “omics” technologies to deepen understanding of gastrointestinal pathophysiology and identify actionable therapeutic targets.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder characterized by symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, and altered bowel habits. Recent research has focused on the gut microbiota's role in IBS, aiming to identify specific microbial signatures associated with the condition.