#AI reads Urine# Serum and urinary metabolomics reflect the early stages of de novo metabolic syndrome after liver transplant: a two-center longitudinal study
Published 17 March, 2026
Liver transplant (LT) recipients face a high risk of developing de novo metabolic syndrome (MetS), which increases the incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. To identify microbial and metabolic markers linked to MetS development after LT, a prospective two-center longitudinal study was conducted, collecting serum samples from 73 patients and urine samples from 44 patients, and analyzing their metabolomic profiles before LT as well as at 6 months, 1 year, and 2–9 years post-LT using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy; MetS was defined as a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 kg/m² combined with at least one additional metabolic abnormality. The results showed that the prevalence of MetS rose from 11% pre-LT to 36% post-LT; after LT, serum metabolite profiles presented increased levels of phosphocholines and lipid-CH3 (LDL), while urine profiles showed higher levels of trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) and phenylacetylglutamine (PAG). In comparison with MetS-free patients, those who developed or had persistent MetS exhibited smaller increases in serum phosphocholines and lipid-CH3 but more significant elevations in urinary TMAO levels. The study concluded that distinct metabolic changes occur after LT, reflecting alterations in both hepatic lipid metabolism and gut-liver microbial co-metabolism; elevated urinary TMAO levels together with reduced responses of serum phosphocholines and lipid-CH3 are characteristic of patients with post-LT MetS, and these indicators may serve as early biomarkers for cardiometabolic risk in LT recipients.
Clin Transl Gastroenterol. 2026 Jan 7. doi: 10.14309/ctg.0000000000000968.
Youhe Gao
Statement: During the preparation of this work the author(s) used Doubao / AI reading for summarizing the content. After using this tool/service, the author(s) reviewed and edited the content as needed and take(s) full responsibility for the content of the published article.
For earlier AI Reads Urine articles：