LC-IMS-HRMS for identification of biomarkers in untargeted metabolomics: The effects of pterostilbene and resveratrol consumption in liver steatosis, animal model

Untargeted metabolomics with the combination of ion mobility separation coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (IMS-HRMS) was applied to investigate the impact of resveratrol and pterostilbene supplementa-tion on the metabolic fingerprint of the Wistar rats liver with induced liver steatosis. RP-LC and HILIC in both ionisation modes were employed to analyse the liver samples (n = 40) from Wistar rats fed with a high-fat and high-fructose diet, supplemented or not with resveratrol and pterostilbene. After univariate and multivariate statistical analysis, 34 metabolites were highlighted in the different diets and elucidated. Despite the structural similarity, different alterations in liver metabolism were observed by the supplementations. Resveratrol treat-ment was characterised by the alteration in metabolism of 17 lysophospholipids, while pterostilbene affected some vitamins and derivatives, among others. IMS has demonstrated great potential in the elucidation process thanks to the additional structural descriptor the CCS (angstrom 2), providing more confidence in the identification.

Automated summary

Untargeted metabolomics with IMS-HRMS was used to study the effects of resveratrol and pterostilbene supplementation on the metabolic fingerprint of the liver in rats with induced liver steatosis. Different alterations in liver metabolism were observed with the two supplements. Resveratrol affected lysophospholipid metabolism, while pterostilbene affected vitamins and derivatives. The use of IMS provided additional structural information for confident identification.