Differences in lipidome and metabolome organization of prefrontal cortex among human populations

Human populations, despite their overwhelming similarity, contain some distinct phenotypic, genetic, epigenetic, and gene expression features. In this study, we explore population differences at yet another level of molecular phenotype: the abundance of non-polar and polar low molecular weight compounds, lipids and metabolites in the prefrontal cortical region of the brain. We assessed the abundance of 1,670 lipids and 258 metabolites in 146 Han Chinese, 97 Western European, and 60 African American individuals of varying ages, covering most of the lifespan. The statistical analysis and logistic regression models both demonstrated extensive lipid and metabolic divergence of the Han Chinese individuals from the other two populations. This divergence was age-dependent, peaking in young adults, and involved metabolites and lipids clustering in specific metabolic pathways.