Abstract MP43: Urine And Plasma Metabolome of Healthy Adults Consuming the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Diet: A Pilot Study

Abstract

The mechanisms of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet on various health markers remain unclear. The objective of this study was to identify plasma and urine metabolites altered by DASH that may elucidate mechanisms of benefit and suggest biomarkers to facilitate research and monitoring. We tested metabolomics differences in a controlled feeding study of 20 people consuming a Control diet for one wk followed by 2 wks of random assignment to Control or DASH. Fasting plasma and 24-hour urine samples collected at the end of each wk were profiled for metabolites using non-targeted GC/MS and amino acids and acylcarnitines were measured in plasma using a targeted panel. Linear models compared metabolite levels between DASH and Control during the final two randomized feeding wks [nominal p<0.05 and false discovery rate (FDR) adjusted p<0.2]. Compared to Control, DASH is designed to be lower in total fat and saturated fat, but higher in protein, fiber, potassium, magnesium and calcium. Overall, we found 161 identifiable urine metabolites. In FDR adjusted tests, urine excretion of a variety of polyphenolic acids were higher on DASH. In plasma, gamma tocopherol, acylcarnitine C5 from branched chain amino acid (BCAAs) metabolism, and amino acids including BCAAs leucine/isoleucine and valine were lower on DASH (Table 1). Several small and medium chain dicarboxylic acylcarnitines were higher on DASH. Consumption of DASH increases urine levels of a set of polyphenolic compounds many of which have been linked to lower blood pressure in animal and small human studies. In plasma, BCAAs are lower on DASH despite higher protein intake. Further research is needed to investigate these metabolites as a panel for dietary monitoring in hypertension. Table 1. Nontargeted and targeted metabolites (Selected metabolites are shown here) in DASH and Control.