Childhood
asthma prevalence continues to rise despite advancements in prevention and medical management strategies. The purpose of this study was to investigate correlations between urinary organic
acids and pulmonary diagnostic tests,
asthma control in Greek asthmatic children. We hypothesized that urinary organic
acids are positively associated with poor pulmonary function in children with
asthma. Seventy-two children, 5 to 12 years old with
asthma were recruited from a pediatric
asthma clinic in Athens, Greece. Pulmonary function was assessed using spirometry and exhaled
nitric oxide analysis.
Asthma control was measured qualitatively using the
Asthma Control Questionnaire. Targeted metabolomic analysis of 34 urinary organic
acids in children was conducted by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A statistically significant difference between girls and boys was found for
asthma control score (P = .02),
lactic acid (P = .03), but not for any other organic
acids (P > .05). Statistically significant correlations were found between
lactic acid and Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1) (P = .02), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) (P = .03); 4- hydroxyphenylacetic
acid and FEV1 (P = .01), FVC (P = .01); 5-hydroxyindoleacetic
acid and FEV1/FVC (P = .03), eNO (P = .05);
glycolic acid with Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) (P = .03); and
malic acid with
asthma control (P = .02). In conclusion, metabolomics was used to determine correlations between urinary organic
acids and conventional pulmonary diagnostic tests in Greek asthmatic children. Metabolomics could be a promising approach for
asthma research and in detection of novel
biomarkers for
asthma monitoring and therapeutic targets for childhood
asthma. This study contributes towards a better understanding of the biochemical pathways involved in
asthma.