Data Sheet 1_Guanine and pregnenolone sulfate are associated with incident type 2 diabetes in two independent populations.pdf

BackgroundType 2 diabetes (T2D) is increasing its burden worldwide; therefore, research focused on its prediction and prevention is essential.
MethodsWe performed an untargeted metabolomics analysis using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to discover metabolic biomarkers and biological pathways associated with incident T2D with a nested case–control design, followed by validation with targeted metabolomics in an independent cohort. In the discovery phase, plasma samples from 352 subjects (209 controls and 143 incident cases) were analyzed, collected with a mean (standard deviation) of 7.40 (0.76) years before they acquired the condition. Using this discovery phase cohort, six metabolites were identified using standards and were subsequently quantified in an independent validation phase cohort of 2,044 subjects (167 incident cases). Additionally, pathway enrichment was conducted in the discovery cohort.
ResultsGuanine, ecgonine, adenine, pregnenolone sulfate, phenyl sulfate, and citrulline were significantly associated with incident T2D in at least one of the analyses performed in the discovery phase. Among these, guanine, pregnenolone sulfate, and citrulline maintained their significant associations with incident T2D in the validation cohort. Additionally, several pathways were significantly altered, with nucleotide metabolism and ABC transporter pathways among the most consistently affected.
ConclusionWe identified significant associations of guanine, pregnenolone sulfate, and citrulline with incident T2D.