BACKGROUND Low walking ability is highly prevalent with advancing age and predicts major health outcomes. Metabolomics may help to better characterize differences in walking ability among older adults, providing insight into potentially altered molecular processes underlying age-related decline in functioning. We sought to identify metabolites and metabolic pathways associated with high versus low walking ability among 120 participants ages 79-95 from the CHS All Stars study. METHODS Using a nested case-control design, 60 randomly selected participants with low walking ability were matched one-to-one on age, gender, race, and fasting time with 60 participants with high walking ability. High versus low walking ability was defined as being in the best versus worst tertiles for both gait speed (≥0.9 versus <0.7m/s) and the Walking Ability Index (7-9 versus 0-1). Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, 569 metabolites were identified in overnight-fasting plasma. RESULTS Ninety-six metabolites were associated with walking ability, where 24% were triacylglycerols. Triacylglycerols that were higher among those with high walking ability consisted mostly of polyunsaturated fatty acids, whereas triacylglycerols that were lower among those with high walking ability consisted mostly of saturated or monounsaturated fatty acids. Body composition partly explained associations between some metabolites and walking ability. Proline and arginine metabolism was a top pathway associated with walking ability. CONCLUSION These results may partly reflect pathways of modifiable risk factors, including excess dietary lipids and lack of physical activity, contributing to obesity and further alterations in metabolic pathways that lead to age-related decline in walking ability in this older adult cohort.

中文翻译：

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CHS All Stars研究中最老的老年人中与步行能力相关的代谢产物。

背景技术随着年龄的增长，步行能力低下非常普遍，并且预测主要的健康结果。代谢组学可能有助于更好地表征老年人的步行能力差异，从而洞悉与年龄相关的功能衰退的潜在分子过程。我们试图从CHS全明星研究中识别120至79-95岁的参与者中与高步行能力与低步行能力相关的代谢物和代谢途径。方法采用巢式病例对照设计，将60名步行能力低的参与者在年龄，性别，种族和禁食时间上一对一匹配，以随机选择60名步行能力低的参与者。高步行能力与低步行能力被定义为在两种步态速度下均处于最佳与最差的三分位数（≥0.9vs <0）。7m / s）和步行能力指数（7-9比0-1）。使用液相色谱-质谱法，在禁食过夜的血浆中鉴定出569种代谢物。结果96种代谢产物与步行能力有关，其中24％为三酰基甘油。在具有高步行能力的人中较高的三酰基甘油主要由多不饱和脂肪酸组成，而在具有高步行能力的人中较低的三酰基甘油主要由饱和或单不饱和脂肪酸组成。身体成分部分解释了某些代谢物与步行能力之间的关联。脯氨酸和精氨酸代谢是与步行能力相关的主要途径。结论这些结果可能部分反映了可改变的危险因素的途径，包括饮食中脂质过多和缺乏体育锻炼，