Do You Know About the Metabolome?

Canadian researchers have almost ‘completed’ the metabolome, according to their report in Nucleic Acids Research. The human metabolome is the chemical equivalent of the genome. Just as the human genome represents the blueprint of life – a complete listing, in order, of the components of the genetic make-up of man – the human metabolome is the complete listing and description of all the small molecule chemicals (or metabolites) that are the ingredients of human life.

Metabolomics was conceived in 1970, but it’s taken this long to have a complete picture of the human metabolome. What use is it (except to provide the question for an answer in Jeopardy)? The metabolome is far more sensitive to changes in the body’s health and physiology than the genome, and can therefore provide more useful information for diagnosing and treating disease, claim the Canadian researchers. Most lab tests today are based on estimations of metabolites in blood or urine (e.g. glucose, creatinine), but so far less than 1% of known metabolites are used in routine clinical testing. About 2,500 metabolites in the metabolome have been identified so far – approximately 95%, say the scientists.

One day we may all have, in our homes, a metabolome machine that can analyze a drop of blood for over 2,000 metabolites, and tell us exactly what’s out of whack. Fortunately, this won’t happen in my lifetime.