Mapping the changed patterns of blood metabolites and proteins to extract pathomechanistic insights

Prof Karl Johan Tronstad presented a method for analysing changes in metabolites and proteins in the blood for the diagnosis of ME/CFS. Metabolic changes can be exercise-induced (e.g. overproduction of lactic acid in the muscles) or permanent (e.g. changes in enzymes, proteins, or metabolic hormones). The lack of oxygen to the cells causes metabolic stress, in which lactic acid is produced through increased glycolysis (sugar metabolism), and energy production in the mitochondria is reduced. As a result, metabolic changes occur that are intended to ensure the energy supply to the cells, e.g. through the metabolism of fatty acids or amino acids for adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. Negative effects of impaired metabolism include a reduced anaerobic threshold, exercise intolerance, and possibly the occurrence of post-exertional malaise (PEM).