Urinary metabonomics research based on mass spectrometry in preterm and term infants

Abstract

Objective Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and metabonomics technique to analyze the difference of urinary metabolites in preterm and term infants, looking for specific biomarkers in the urine of preterm infants. Methods Urine liquid specimens of 30 preterm infants and 20 term children were collected from the sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry technology to determine glucose, lactose, lactic acid, glycerol, palmitic acid, stearic acid, valsartan ammonia acid, light ammonia acid, different light ammonia acid, Gan ammonia acid, c ammonia acid, su ammonia acid, Arab sugar alcohol, wood sugar, and acetyl aspartate ammonia acid and other urine metabolism product content, and using main components analysis(PCA) and partial minimum II discriminant analysis(PLS) to look for differences and biomarkers between the 2 groups. Results 1.There was significant difference between preterm infants urine metabolism product and term children, using PCA and PLA discriminant analysis on the 2 groups for discrimination; 2.Main components analysis detected preterm infants and term children of special heterosexual metabolism product(biological signs property) for stearic acid, and lactic acid; 3.Preterm infants and term children were significantly different in metabolic pathways of major metabolites of amino acids(valsartan ammonia acid, light ammonia acid, different light ammonia acid, Su ammonia acid, c ammonia acid and Gan ammonia acid), and fat(glycerol, palmitic acid, and stearic acid) and sugar(lactose, and lactic acid). Conclusions Metabolite has an obvious difference in preterm and term infants, and determination of urine metabolites by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with metabonomics analysis can be used as important tools to evaluate neonatal metabolic conditions, and is of importance in correcting metabolic disorders in premature infants, and supplying reasonable nutrient substance. Key words: Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; Preterm infants; Metabonomics; Metabolites