Advances in untargeted metabolomics research on osteoporosis
10.3760/cma.j.cn121113-20241116-00662
- VernacularTitle:骨质疏松症非靶向代谢组学的研究进展
- Author:
Jianxiang LONG
1
;
Qingyun XIE
;
Dongfa LIAO
;
Shihong LI
;
Hongyan TAN
;
Wei WANG
Author Information
1. 中国人民解放军西部战区总医院骨科，成都 610083
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
osteoporosis;
osteopenia;
metabolomics;
multi-omics;
research progress
- From:
Chinese Journal of Orthopaedics
2025;45(15):1014-1022
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Osteoporosis is a systemic disease characterized by imbalanced bone metabolism and destruction of bone microstructure, with reduced bone density, decreased bone quality, and significantly increased risk of fracture as its hallmarks. At present, osteoporosis is primarily diagnosed through bone density measurement. However, this method has low sensitivity and is challenging for the early diagnosis of osteoporosis. We analyzed osteoporosis-related metabolomics studies based on blood, urine, and fecal samples, as well as the application of multi-omics approaches in elucidating its pathogenesis. Evidence suggests that metabolomics can detect metabolic alterations prior to measurable changes in bone mineral density, offering promising avenues for early osteoporosis detection. Blood-based metabolomics studies indicate that amino acid metabolism dysregulation is a key feature of osteoporosis. Specifically, glycine, glutamine, lysine, and hydroxyproline exhibit negative correlations with bone mineral density, whereas tryptophan, branched-chain amino acids, and arginine show positive associations. Lipid metabolism disturbances are characterized by increased levels of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and triglycerides, alongside decreased levels of sphingomyelin and carnitine. Fecal metabolomics studies highlight the significance of the "gut-bone axis" in osteoporosis, where gut microbiota dysbiosis influences bone metabolism through modulation of arginine and proline metabolism and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis pathways. Multi-omics approaches integrate metabolomics, genomics, proteomics, and other omics data to provide a more comprehensive understanding of osteoporosis' molecular mechanisms, enabling the identification of key biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Metabolomics holds considerable potential for early diagnosis, while multi-omics integration offers novel insights into the complex pathophysiological mechanisms underlying osteoporosis. As detection technologies and analytical methods continue to advance, omics-based strategies are expected to play a pivotal role in the development of precision medicine for osteoporosis.
