NMR-Based Metabolomics in Cardiac Research

Abstract

Proton (1H) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy can measure a range of metabolites in both cardiac tissue and blood plasma for following cardiovascular disease. For solution-state NMR spectroscopy, it is necessary to create a tissue extract, with perchloric acid, acetonitrile/water, and chloroform/methanol being popular extraction media. Alternatively, high-resolution magic angle spinning (HRMAS) 1H NMR spectroscopy can be used to derive a metabolic profile directly from intact cardiac tissue. This chapter will discuss the practical methods used for 1H NMR spectroscopy to follow cardiovascular diseases both in terms of metabolic changes in cardiac tissue and changes in blood plasma.