Metabolomics Profiles of Eating Disorders

Metabolomics is a consolidated “omics” science aimed at detecting the pool of metabolites contained in a specific biological compartment at a specific time (metabolome). Since metabolites are the end products of molecular pathways and reflect the functional status of these pathways, they provide a precise description of the phenotype. Therefore, the aim of this approach is to collect quantitative data on a wide range of metabolites to obtain an overall picture of metabolic changes associated with a disease to identify useful biomarkers for the diagnosis and/or prognosis of that disease. Metabolomics has been applied to characterize the metabolic profiles of patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) with the aim to identify biomarkers potentially useful to expand knowledge on the pathophysiology and the clinical management of this disorder. At present, metabolomics studies clearly show a considerable disruption of metabolism in the acute phase of AN with the perturbation of several metabolic pathways. Although most of those alterations do not seem to normalize after the recovery of body weight and the reestablishment of a healthy food intake, it is not possible yet to define the state or trait nature of those perturbations. Indeed, metabolomics studies have not provided any biomarker of AN. Anyway, all the metabolomics alterations that have been detected so far in AN are in line with the suggested metabolic etiology of AN. Current treatments for AN are not satisfactory, and there is a need for new treatment strategies. Based on metabolomics findings, rigorous randomized controlled trials should be performed to verify whether supplementation with specific nutrients aiming to correct deranged metabolic pathways would be helpful to improve the clinical outcomes of the usual treatments for patients with AN.