|||
Smoking causes health problems and induces changes in metabolite concentrations, which are reversible after stopping smoking. These results are consistent with decreased risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as myocardial infarction after smoking cessation. Scientists from the Research Unit of Molecular Epidemiology (AME), the Institute of Experimental Genetics (IEG) and the Institute of Epidemiology II (EPI II) at Helmholtz Zentrum München analyzed over 1,200 blood samples of the population-based cohort KORA (Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg). Metabolite profiles and smoking status were recorded at both baseline and at the follow-up seven years later. The team led by Dr. Rui Wang-Sattler, Tao Xu, Zhonghao Yu, Prof. Dr. Jerzy Adamski and Prof. Dr. Annette Peters, identified 21 smoking-related metabolites, mainly from amino acid and lipid pathways. Among them, 19 metabolites were found to be reversible had the smokers given up smoking. Furthermore, the smoking-related metabolites from the urea cycle and from modified lipids, such as phosphatidylcholine, were also shown as risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. The scientists thus demonstrated the remarkable benefits of smoking cessation in reducing health problems.
The affected metabolic pathways elucidate further health consequences of smoking. “Our study demonstrates metabolomics as a powerful tool in systems biology with which we could investigate how the lifestyle and environmentally related to diseases”, said Dr. Wang-Sattler, head of the research group “Metabolism” in AME.
Environmental factors and lifestyle play a key role in the pathogenesis of diseases that are widespread in Germany, such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus. The goal of Helmholtz Zentrum München is to develop new approaches for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of the major diseases.
Archiver|手机版|科学网 ( 京ICP备07017567号-12 )
GMT+8, 2024-10-19 21:42
Powered by ScienceNet.cn
Copyright © 2007- 中国科学报社