Metabolomics: A Pioneering Technology for Periodontal Research and Personalised Medicine

Abstract

Metabolomics involves the identification and quantitative analysis of all small metabolites present in cells, tissues, and bodily fluids that are formed as a result of biochemical reactions within the cell. These metabolites form a large pool of substrates and can be modified by serving as a substrate for enzymes involved in other metabolic pathways. Therefore, the metabolome in an organism is so dynamic that there is variation in their quantity and chemical composition over time. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), and Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) are the most commonly used technologies in metabolomics. The metabolites are first isolated based on their polarity, chemical composition, and structural resemblances, after which they undergo specialised processes and are then analysed. Metabolomics, coupled with MS, has advanced rapidly and found widespread use in periodontal research. The presence of distinct metabolic and microbiological profiles in different types of periodontitis, as well as their link to clinical indicators of periodontal inflammation, has demonstrated the usefulness of metabolomics in screening, preventing, and monitoring prognosis. Conventional diagnostics fail to detect periodontitis in its early stages, cannot discriminate between past and present disease activity, and are incapable of analysing the entire repertoire of biomarkers in the biological system. Therefore, metabolomics, in conjunction with other omics technologies, can provide tailored periodontal disease therapy. The present review aimed to explore metabolomics, its applications in periodontics, and the potential for personalised treatment.