Metabolomics as an Important Tool for Determining the Mechanisms of Human Skeletal Muscle Deconditioning

Muscle deconditioning impairs both locomotor function and metabolic health, and is associated with reduced quality life and increased mortality rates. Despite an appreciation of the existence of phenomena such as muscle anabolic resistance, mitophagy, and insulin resistance with age and disease in humans, little is known about the mechanisms responsible for these negative traits. With the complexities surrounding these unknowns and the lack of progress to date in development of effective interventions, there is a need for alternative approaches. Metabolomics is the study of the full array of metabolites within cells or tissues, which collectively constitute the metabolome. As metabolomics allows for the assessment of the cellular metabolic state in response to physiological stimuli, any chronic change in the metabolome is likely to reflect adaptation in the physiological phenotype of an organism. This, therefore, provides a holistic and unbiased approach that could be applied to potentially uncover important novel facets in the pathophysiology of muscle decline in ageing and disease, as well as identifying prognostic markers of those at risk of decline. This review will aim to highlight the current knowledge and potential impact of metabolomics in the study of muscle mass loss and deconditioning in humans and will highlight key areas for future research.