Benchtop NMR-Based Metabolomics: First Steps for Biomedical Application

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics is a valuable tool for identifying biomarkers and understanding the underlying metabolic changes associated with various diseases. However, the translation of metabolomics analysis to clinical practice has been limited by the high cost and large size of traditional high-resolution NMR spectrometers. Benchtop NMR, a compact and low-cost alternative, offers the potential to overcome these limitations and facilitate the wider use of NMR-based metabolomics in clinical settings. This review summarizes the current state of benchtop NMR for clinical applications where benchtop NMR has demonstrated the ability to reproducibly detect changes in metabolite levels associated with diseases such as type 2 diabetes and tuberculosis. Benchtop NMR has been used to identify metabolic biomarkers in a range of biofluids, including urine, blood plasma and saliva. However, further research is needed to optimize the use of benchtop NMR for clinical applications and to identify additional biomarkers that can be used to monitor and manage a range of diseases. Overall, benchtop NMR has the potential to revolutionize the way metabolomics is used in clinical practice, providing a more accessible and cost-effective way to study metabolism and identify biomarkers for disease diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.