The liver plays a crucial role in the body's metabolic processes, and its decline with age has been associated with various age-related diseases. In an attempt to understand the metabolic changes occurring in the liver during aging, researchers conducted a comparative study between mice and humans, focusing on the potential of sebacic acid as an age-related biomarker.
Sebacic acid is a byproduct of the ω-oxidation pathway, a metabolic pathway predominantly occurring in the liver. The researchers hypothesized that changes in sebacic acid levels could serve as an indicator of liver aging. To investigate this hypothesis, they employed metabolomics, a cutting-edge analytical technique that allows for the comprehensive profiling of small molecules in biological samples.
The study involved a longitudinal cohort of 710 individuals in Taiwan, spanning a wide age range. By utilizing machine learning algorithms, the researchers developed a measure termed plasma metabolomic age based on the metabolomic profiles of the participants. This measure aimed to estimate the acceleration of aging in individuals based on their metabolite patterns.
The results of the study revealed a significant correlation between the estimated plasma metabolomic age and HOMA-insulin resistance, a marker of insulin resistance often associated with aging. This finding suggests that the metabolic changes captured by the metabolomic age measure are not only related to aging but also reflect physiological changes linked to age-related diseases.
To further investigate the specific metabolic alterations associated with aging, the researchers focused on the changes in hexanoic and heptanoic acids, which exhibited a gradual decrease in older adults. They employed a sliding window analysis to observe the fluctuating levels of these fatty acids at different ages. Interestingly, the metabolic changes observed in humans were found to share similarities with those observed in mice, particularly involving the dysregulation of ω-oxidation of medium chain fatty acids.
These findings shed light on the potential of sebacic acid as a promising biomarker for liver aging. The study's results demonstrate the feasibility of using metabolomics to identify age-related metabolic changes and establish an age-related biomarker. Understanding the metabolic alterations associated with aging not only provides valuable insights into the aging process but also offers potential targets for interventions to mitigate age-related diseases.
The research highlights the importance of considering the liver's metabolic activity in the context of aging. By identifying specific metabolites, such as sebacic acid, that undergo age-related changes, scientists can develop targeted interventions to promote healthy aging and potentially prevent or manage age-related diseases. Future studies could explore the mechanisms underlying the dysregulation of ω-oxidation and further validate sebacic acid as a biomarker of liver aging, potentially paving the way for clinical applications in age-related disease diagnosis and treatment.