Metabolomic signatures for blood pressure from early to late adolescence: findings from a U.S. cohort

Abstract

Introduction: Metabolite signatures for blood pressure (BP) may reveal biomarkers, elucidate pathogenesis, and provide prevention targets for high BP. Knowledge regarding metabolites associated with BP in adolescence remains limited.

Objectives: Investigate the associations between metabolites and adolescent BP, both cross-sectionally (in early and late adolescence) and prospectively (from early to late adolescence).

Methods: Participants are from the Project Viva prospective cohort. During the early (median: 12.8 years; N = 556) and late (median: 17.4 years; N = 501) adolescence visits, we conducted untargeted plasma metabolomic profiling and measured systolic (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP). We used linear regression to identify metabolites cross-sectionally associated with BP at each time point, and to assess prospective associations of changes in metabolite levels from early to late adolescence with late adolescence BP. We used Weighted Gene Correlation Network Analysis and Spearman's partial correlation to identify metabolite clusters associated with BP at each time point.

Results: In the linear models, higher androgenic steroid levels were consistently associated with higher SBP and DBP in early and late adolescence. A cluster of 59 metabolites, mainly composed of androgenic steroids, correlated with higher SBP and DBP in early adolescence. A cluster primarily composed of fatty acid lipids was marginally associated with higher SBP in females in late adolescence. Multiple metabolites, including those in the creatine and purine metabolism sub-pathways, were associated with higher SBP and DBP both cross-sectionally and prospectively.

Conclusion: Our results shed light on the potential metabolic processes and pathophysiology underlying high BP in adolescents.

Keywords: Birth Cohort; Blood Pressure; Hypertension; Metabolomics; Pediatrics.