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JANUARY 9, 2014 | WELLNESS (HTTP://WELLMETRIS.COM/CATEGORY/WELLNESS/)

OMICS SCIENCES AND METABOLOMICS AS A REVOLUTIONARY TOOL

Omics involves the study of biological molecules, which translate into the function, structure, and dynamics of an organism or organisms. Omics is premised on
characterizing and quantifying these molecules, so as to better understand how they contribute to organismal life. Different specializations exist within this broader
omics term, including genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics.
Genomics
To begin, when one is studying genomics, they are examining the genetic make-up of a particular organism. More speci cally, they are studying and characterizing the
gene sequences within the organisms genome. There are multiple pathways for further study, once the genomic sequence is determined. The sequence can be used for
the following purposes: 1) to determine the function of the numerous genes; 2) to compare genes in one organism to genes in another; 3) to generate and view the 3D
structure of proteins from each protein family, offering insight on the proteins function (as genes contain the instructions for building proteins).
Proteomics
When one wishes to get a closer look at the molecular factors contributing to organismal life, studying the proteins within the cell can provide more information.
Proteomics allows one to understand how the structure and function of proteins allows them to carry out the actions that they perform. Proteomics also provides
information on what sorts of interactions proteins have, and how proteins contribute to certain organismal life processes.
Metabolomics
As one of the more recently established sciences, metabolomics involves the study of low molecular weight compounds in a sample.2 A sample could be in the form of
blood, urine, plasma, or serum. Essentially, the low molecular weight compounds are end-products, or metabolites, of cellular processes that happen in the organism.
Metabolomics provides a window into the study of an organisms phenotype, or its observable properties. This differs from what genomics and proteomics can provide,
as these other elds of study only provide information about the genotype of organisms, or in other words, their hereditary information.
Advantages of Metabolomics
Although both genomics and proteomics studies are advantageous in terms of analyses of organismal tissue samples and certain bodily uids, they are generally more
invasive than metabolomics studies. The advantage of metabolomics is that it can be performed using noninvasive bio uids, like plasma or urine. Additionally,
metabolomics generally requires little sample preparation, which is advantageous in settings where rapid results of the metabolic pro le are desired.
Furthermore, metabolomics, often conducted in preclinical settings, can provide valuable information to be translated into clinical studies, especially with regard to
drug toxicity and disease/pre-disease condition studies. In fact, metabolomics has been used in some clinical settings, as in one study where urine samples were
analyzed using metabolomics methods to determine the presence of renal cell carcinoma and its related biomarkers. Another study utilized metabolomics methods to
detect coronary heart disease.
Metabolomics-Revolutionizing the Study of Diet Related Diseases
To expand on the value of metabolomics in studying health and wellness, one can refer to the slew of reviews commenting on metabolomics as a viable option for
biomarker discovery.4 In the realm of diet-related research, metabolomics is utilized to improve the search for biomarkers that are implicated in the prognosis of diet-

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related diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and some cancers. Furthermore, research indicates that metabolomics may be a key element in improving
early diagnosis of diseases and accuracy of disease prognosis. It may also provide advantages in terms of monitoring diseases and determining early markers of damage
to certain organs. Human-nutrition metabolomics has provided valuable insight on nutrient interactions with metabolism, as well as insight on the potential for
metabolic alteration as a therapeutic intervention for improving health.5
WellMetris Wellness Pro le
At WellMetris, we have designed the Wellness Pro le, which capitalizes on the potential advantages of metabolomics for assessing health and wellness. Our noninvasive urinalysis system measures speci c biomarkers that are related to oxidative stress, in ammatory status, and antioxidant capacity. Our goal is to provide
employers, insurers, providers, and end-users with valuable information to optimize health, wellness, and nancial decision-making.

Sources:
1. http://isaaa.org/resources/publications/pocketk/15/ (http://isaaa.org/resources/publications/pocketk/15/)
2. http://genomemedicine.com/content/5/6/58 (http://genomemedicine.com/content/5/6/58)

3. Donna L. Mendrick&Laura Schnackenberg, Genomic and metabolomic advances in the identi cation of disease and adverse event biomarkers, Biomarkers in Medicine
(http://www.futuremedicine.com/loi/bmm) October 2009, Vol. 3, No. 5, Pages 605-615.
4. Emily G. Armitage, Francisco J. Ruprez, Coral Barbas, Metabolomics of diet-related diseases using mass spectrometry, TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, Volume 52,
December 2013, Pages 61-73, ISSN 0165-9936, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.trac.2013.08.003 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.trac.2013.08.003).
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165993613001970 (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165993613001970)) (citing: A. Nordstrom, R.
Lewensohn, Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology 5(2010) 4.; ] A. DAlessandro, B. Giardina, F. Gevi, A.M. Timperio, L. Zolla, Blood Transfusion 10 (2012) S19; I.
Kouskoumvekaki, G. Panagiotou, Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology2001 (2011); A. Zhang, H. Sun, X. Wang, Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 404 (2012) 1239; M.
Mamas, W.B. Dunn, L. Neyses, R. Goodacre, Archives of Toxicology 85(2011) 5; N.S. Fearnhead, J.L. Wilding, W.F. Bodmer, British Medical Bulletin 64 (2002)).
5. See source 4. (citing: M. Oresic, Nutrition Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases 19 (2009) 816.; C. Manach, J. Hubert, R. Llorach, A. Scalbert, Molecular Nutrition & Food
Research 53 (2009) 1303.)

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