Metabolomics analysis reveals altered metabolites in lean compared with obese adolescents and additional metabolic shifts associated with hyperinsulinaemia and insulin resistance in obese adolescents: a cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION: Hyperinsulinaemia and insulin resistance (IR) are strongly associated with obesity and are forerunners of type 2 diabetes. Little is known about metabolic alterations separately associated with obesity, hyperinsulinaemia/IR and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) in adolescents. OBJECTIVES: To identify metabolic alterations associated with obesity, hyperinsulinaemia/IR and hyperinsulinaemia/IR combined with IGT in obese adolescents. METHODS: 81 adolescents were stratified into four groups based on body mass index (lean vs. obese), insulin responses (normal insulin (NI) vs. high insulin (HI)) and glucose responses (normal glucose tolerance (NGT) vs. IGT) after an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The groups comprised: (1) healthy lean with NI and NGT, (2) obese with NI and NGT, (3) obese with HI and NGT, and (4) obese with HI and IGT. Targeted nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomics analysis was performed on fasting and seven post-OGTT plasma samples, followed by univariate and multivariate statistical analyses. RESULTS: Two groups of metabolites were identified: (1) Metabolites associated with insulin response level: adolescents with HI (groups 3–4) had higher concentrations of branched-chain amino acids and tyrosine, and lower concentrations of serine, glycine, myo-inositol and dimethylsulfone, than adolescents with NI (groups 1–2). (2) Metabolites associated with obesity status: obese adolescents (groups 2–4) had higher concentrations of acetylcarnitine, alanine, pyruvate and glutamate, and lower concentrations of acetate, than lean adolescents (group 1). CONCLUSIONS: Obesity is associated with shifts in fat and energy metabolism. Hyperinsulinaemia/IR in obese adolescents is also associated with increased branched-chain and aromatic amino acids. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11306-020-01759-y.