Targeted metabolomics profiling in pregnancy associated with vitamin D deficiency

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2024 Apr 20;24(1):295. doi: 10.1186/s12884-024-06454-7.

Abstract

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is common in pregnancy, however, its effects has not been fully elucidated. Here, we conducted targeted metabolomics profiling to study the relationship.

Methods: This study enrolled 111 pregnant women, including sufficient group (n = 9), inadequate group (n = 49) and deficient group (n = 53). Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS)-based targeted metabonomics were used to characterize metabolite profiles associated with vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy.

Results: Many metabolites decreased in the inadequate and deficient group, including lipids, amino acids and others. The lipid species included fatty acyls (FA 14:3, FA 26:0; O), glycerolipids (MG 18:2), glycerophospholipids (LPG 20:5, PE-Cer 40:1; O2, PG 29:0), sterol lipids (CE 20:5, ST 28:0; O4, ST 28:1; O4). Decreased amino acids included aromatic amino acids (tryptophan, phenylalanine, tyrosine) and branched-chain amino acids (valine, isoleucine, leucine), proline, methionine, arginine, lysine, alanine, L-kynurenine,5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan, allysine.

Conclusions: This targeted metabolomics profiling indicated that vitamin D supplementation can significantly affect lipids and amino acids metabolism in pregnancy.

Keywords: Mass spectrometry; Pregnancy; Targeted metabolomics; Vitamin D.

MeSH terms

  • Alanine
  • Amino Acids
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lipids
  • Metabolomics
  • Pregnancy
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry*
  • Vitamin D Deficiency* / complications

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Alanine
  • Lipids