First Time View on Human Metabolome Changes after a Single Intake of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine in Healthy Placebo-Controlled Subjects
Martina I. Boxler, Matthias E. Liechti, Yasmin Schmid, Thomas Kræmer, Andrea E. Steuer
Journal of Proteome Research July 19, 2017 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.7b00294 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA single dose of MDMA (ecstasy) alters the plasma metabolome in healthy adults. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial with 15 participants, nine metabolites showed significant concentration changes after MDMA compared with placebo. The main changes involved glycerophospholipids, which may indicate increased energy production, and the ratio of methionine-sulfoxide to methionine, a potential marker of oxidative stress. Baseline samples were essential to avoid overestimating effects due to high interday variability among individuals.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 15 |
| Population | Healthy adults |
| Intervention | 3 |
| Keywords | Metabolome Placebo Pharmacology Internal medicine Metabolite |
| Citations | 17 |
| Key finding | MDMA administration significantly altered nine plasma metabolites, mainly glycerophospholipids and the methionine-sulfoxide/methionine ratio, suggesting changes in energy production and oxidative stress. |
Abstract
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; "ecstasy") is widely consumed recreationally. Little is known about its effects on the human metabolome. Mapping biochemical changes after drug exposure can complement traditional approaches by revealing potential biomarkers of organ toxicity or discovering new metabolomic features in a time- and dose-dependent manner. We aimed to analyze for the first time plasma samples from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study in healthy adults to explore changes in endogenous plasma metabolites following a single intake of MDMA. Plasma samples from 15 subjects taken at four different time points were analyzed with the commercially available AbsoluteIDQ kit (Biocrates). Time series analysis revealed a total of nine metabolites, which showed a significant concentration change after MDMA administration compared with placebo. Paired t tests of the single time points showed statistically significant concentration changes mainly of glycerophospholipids and the metabolic ratio of methionine-sulfoxide over methionine. Changes of this metabolic ratio may be indicative for changes in systemic oxidative stress levels, and the increased amount of glycerophospholipids could be interpreted as an upregulation of energy production. Baseline samples within the experimental study design were crucial for evaluation of metabolomics data as interday individuality within subjects was high otherwise resulting in overestimations of the findings.