Metabolomics Signatures of Atherosclerosis in Cardiovascular Disease: A Narrative Systematic Review
Abstract
Background: High-throughput metabolomics studies have promoted the discovery of candidate biomarkers linked to atherosclerosis (AS). This narrative systematic review summarises metabolomics studies conducted in (1) individuals with subclinical AS (assessed by imaging techniques such as carotid intimal media thickness, IMT, and coronary artery calcium, CAC), (2) patients with established atherosclerotic plaques, and (3) individuals with AS risk factors. Methods: The systematic search was conducted in the PubMed database according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (i) publication date between 2009 and 2024; (ii) identification of potential biomarkers for AS in subjects with a diagnosis of AS or with one or more traits characteristic of the disease (i.e., CAC or IMT); (iii) identification of potential AS biomarkers in subjects with atherogenic clinical conditions (i.e., Down's syndrome, DS, polycystic ovarian syndrome, PCOS, and systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE); (iv) metabolomic studies; and (iv) studies in human samples. Exclusion criteria comprised the following: (i) studies on lipid metabolic diseases unrelated to AS, (ii) "omics" results not derived from metabolomics, (iii) reviews and studies in animal models or cell cultures, and (iv) systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Of 90 eligible studies screened, 24 met the inclusion criteria. Results: Across subclinical and…
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