The Metabolomic Profile of Microscopic Colitis Is Affected by Smoking but Not Histopathological Diagnosis, Clinical Course, Symptoms, or Treatment

Abstract

Microscopic colitis (MC) is classified as collagenous colitis (CC) and lymphocytic colitis (LC). Genetic associations between CC and human leucocyte antigens (HLAs) have been found, with smoking being a predisposing external factor. Smoking has a great impact on metabolomics. The aim of this explorative study was to analyze global metabolomics in MC and to examine whether the metabolomic profile differed regarding the type and course of MC, the presence of IBS-like symptoms, treatment, and smoking habits. Of the 240 identified women with MC aged ≤73 years, 131 completed the study questionnaire; the Rome III questionnaire; and the Visual Analog Scale for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (VAS-IBS). Blood samples were analyzed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatograph mass spectrometry (UHLC-MS/UHPLC-MSMS). The women, 63.1 (58.7–67.2) years old, were categorized based on CC (n = 76) and LC (n = 55); one episode or refractory MC; IBS-like symptoms or not; use of corticosteroids or not; and smoking habits. The only metabolomic differences found in the univariate model after adjustment for false discovery rate (FDR) were between smokers and non-smokers. Serotonin was markedly increased in smokers (p < 0.001). No clear patterns appeared when conducting a principal component analysis (PCA). No differences in the metabolomic profile were found depending on the type or clinical course of the disease, neither in the whole MC group nor in the subgroup analysis of CC.