Serum metabolomic profiling reveals lipid remodeling and energy metabolic dysregulation in myocardial infarction

Abstract

Myocardial infarction (MI) is accompanied by profound metabolic remodeling, yet the integrated circulating metabolic phenotype remains incompletely defined. Objective: We performed untargeted serum metabolomics to identify the coordinated metabolic signature of MI. Results: A total of 264 differential metabolites were identified (199 upregulated, 65 downregulated). Key alterations included L-lactic acid, lipid species, and acylcarnitines, indicating disturbances in glycolysis, phospholipid remodeling, and fatty acid oxidation. Metabolite set enrichment and pathway mapping highlighted solute transport, purine catabolism, and nucleotide metabolism. Conclusions: MI is characterized by a coordinated serum metabolic signature involving energy failure, phospholipid remodeling, and purine–nucleotide turnover, supporting the potential of circulating metabolite panels for biomarker development.