Plasma Metabolomic Signature of Early Abuse in Middle-Aged Women

We examined the associations between early abuse and midlife plasma metabolites in two nonoverlapping subsamples from the Nurses’ Health Study II, comprising 803 (mean age = 40 years) and 211 women (mean age = 61 years). Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry assays were used to measure metabolomic profiles, with 283 metabolites consistently measured in both subsamples. Physical and sexual abuse before age 18 years was retrospectively assessed by validated questions integrating type/frequency of abuse. Analyses were conducted in each sample and pooled using meta-analysis, with multiple testing adjustment using the q value approach for controlling the positive false discovery rate. Results After adjusting for age, race, menopausal status, body size at age 5 years, and childhood socioeconomic indicators, more severe early abuse was consistently associated with five metabolites at midlife (q value
Source: Psychosomatic Medicine - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: research