title: Serum metabolite concentrations and decreased GFR in the general population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Metabolites such as creatinine and urea are established kidney function markers. High-throughput metabolomic studies have not been reported in large general population samples spanning normal kidney function and chronic kidney disease (CKD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional observational studies of the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  2 independent samples: KORA F4 (discovery sample, n = 3,011) and Twins UK (validation sample, n = 984). EXPOSURE FACTORS: 151 serum metabolites, quantified by targeted mass spectrometry.
  
  
  METHODS
  Metabolites and their 22,650 ratios were analyzed by multivariable-adjusted linear regression for their association with glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), estimated separately from creatinine and cystatin C levels by CKD-EPI (CKD Epidemiology Collaboration) equations. After correction for multiple testing, significant metabolites (P < 3.3 × 10(-4) for single metabolites; P < 2.2 × 10(-6) for ratios) were meta-analyzed with independent data from the TwinsUK Study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Replicated associations with eGFR were observed for 22 metabolites and 516 metabolite ratios. Pooled P values ranged from 7.1 × 10(-7) to 1.8 × 10(-69) for the replicated single metabolites. Acylcarnitines such as glutarylcarnitine were associated inversely with eGFR (-3.73 mL/min/1.73 m(2) per standard deviation [SD] increase, pooled P = 1.8 × 10(-69)). The replicated ratio with the strongest association was the ratio of serine to glutarylcarnitine (P = 3.6 × 10(-81)). Almost all replicated phenotypes associated with decreased eGFR (<60 mL/min/1.73 m(2); n = 172 cases) in KORA F4: per 1-SD increment, ORs ranged from 0.29-2.06. Across categories of a metabolic score consisting of 3 uncorrelated metabolites, the prevalence of decreased eGFR increased from 3% to 53%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cross-sectional study design, GFR was estimated, limited number of metabolites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Distinct metabolic phenotypes were reproducibly associated with eGFR in 2 separate population studies. They may provide novel insights into renal metabolite handling, improve understanding of pathophysiology, or aid in the diagnosis of kidney disease. Longitudinal studies are needed to clarify whether changes in metabolic phenotypes precede or result from kidney function impairment.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Oemer-Necmi
authors.initials: ON
authors.lastname: Goek
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Döring
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gieger
authors.forename: Margit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heier
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Koenig
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prehn
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Römisch-Margl
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang-Sattler
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Illig
authors.forename: Karsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suhre
authors.forename: Peggy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sekula
authors.forename: Guangju
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhai
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adamski
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Köttgen
authors.forename: Christa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meisinger
mesh_terms: D002331:Carnitine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055316:Cystatin C / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007677:Kidney Function Tests / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D055432:Metabolomics; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D055316:Cystatin C; C116917:acylcarnitine; D003404:Creatinine; D002331:Carnitine