Nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomics in children with growth retardation

Abstract

Growth retardation is characterized by a child\"s height or weight being below the normative community standards for their age. This condition may not only affect physical growth but is accompanied by an increased risk of health issues such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Metabolomics, which involves the comprehensive analysis of small-molecule metabolites that serve as intermediates or end products of metabolic pathways, provides a valuable approach for understanding the biochemical alterations in such conditions. This study aimed to investigate the metabolomic alterations in children with growth retardation in comparison to age-matched, normally growing peers. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics analyses were performed on urine and serum samples obtained from 25 healthy controls and 30 children with growth retardation aged between 6 months and 18 years. Participants with secondary causes of growth retardation were excluded, and all participants had normal routine biochemical parameters. Data analysis with MetaboAnalyst 6.0 revealed significant metabolite differences between the groups. In serum samples, 4-ethylbenzoic acid and N-acetylgalactosamine levels were significantly altered in children with growth retardation. In urine samples, higher levels of creatine and alanine were observed in the patient group relative to the control group. Pathway analysis revealed disruptions in starch, sucrose, and galactose metabolism. Notably, the lower levels of alanine and creatinine observed in the urine of children with growth retardation compared to controls may reflect nutritional deficiencies. Although these findings are not yet incorporated into routine laboratory assessments for growth retardation, they highlight distinct metabolic alterations that warrant further investigation. Longitudinal studies are essential to elucidate the long-term metabolic consequences of growth retardation and their implications for clinical management.