Abstract P199: Plasma Metabolomic Profiles Related To Blood Pressure (BP) In Early And Mid-adolescence: Findings From The Project Viva Cohort

Abstract

Background: The identification of metabolites related to BP may afford opportunities to reveal novel biomarkers, elucidate pathogenesis, and provide potential intervention targets for prevention of hypertension. Methods: We conducted 2 cross-sectional analyses using data from the Early Teen ( n = 560, median age: 12.9y; IQR: 12.5-13.3y) and Mid-Teen ( n = 503, median age: 17.4y; IQR: 17.2-17.8y) visits of Project Viva. At each visit, we assayed plasma metabolites via untargeted metabolomics profiling (1135 at Early Teen; 1278 at Mid-Teen) and measured systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP). Using weighted-correlation network analysis, we identified metabolite modules and examined associations with BP using Spearman's partial correlations, adjusting for age, sex, and height. We used false discovery rate (FDR) to account for testing across multiple modules. Results: At the Early Teen visit, we identified a module of 59 metabolites ( Figure ; Network 7) comprised primarily of steroids (e.g., 24 androgenic steroids, 19 corticosteroids) that was correlated with higher SBP and DBP (ρ adjusted = 0.13-0.16; FDR ≤ 0.03). Associations were similar between males vs. females. Within this network, androgenic steroids (e.g., androstenediol (3beta,17beta) disulfate and monosulfate) seemed to drive the overall associations. At the Mid-Teen visit, the module primarily consisting of androgenic steroids was also correlated with higher SBP in the unadjusted models (ρ crude = 0.23; FDR < 0.01), but the association was attenuated in the adjusted model. Conclusions: A distinct module of metabolites, largely driven by androgenic steroids, was associated with higher BP in adolescents.