Logo Image
News|Articles|March 4, 2026

Utilizing LC-MS Metabolomic Profiling to Identify Plasma Biomarkers Associated with Adult-Onset Hearing Loss

Author(s)John Chasse

A recent study employed high-throughput liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to perform comprehensive metabolic profiling on plasma samples from nearly 4,000 women. By leveraging the separation power of chromatography and the sensitivity of mass spectrometry, researchers identified specific metabolic perturbations, such as steroid esters and triglycerides, linked to the risk of hearing loss. These findings demonstrate how automated analytical platforms can uncover novel biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for complex sensory disorders.

Loss of hearing affects millions of adults across the globe. Metabolomics investigations are comprehensive assessments of an individual's metabolic processes which may offer insight into biological pathways causing auditory dysfunction; data regarding this, however, are limited. In response, researchers conducted a cross-sectional investigation of the association of plasma metabolite profiles and self-reported adult-onset moderate or severe hearing loss among 3925 women, including 1167 hearing loss cases and 2758 controls, with metabolic profiling conducted using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). A paper based on their study was published in Metabolomics.1

As the negative impact of hearing loss on communication, health and quality of life is substantial, and the economic costs associated with the disability are great, the identification of possibly modifiable factors which cause or influence hearing loss can inform future strategies for its prevention, as well as have direct implications for the improvement of the health of the population.2-4

For this study, the researchers investigated the association of plasma metabolite profiles and self-reported adult-onset moderate or severe hearing loss among 3925 women, including 1167 hearing loss cases and 2758 controls. The independent associations of 278 metabolites with hearing loss was evaluated in logistic regression models which were adjusted for age, fasting status, race/ethnicity, co-morbidities, medication use and biobehavioral factors, and metabolite set enrichment analysis was performed for the identification of metabolite classes which are enriched for concordant associations with hearing loss.1

The researchers reported identifying 10 metabolites which were significantly connected (q value < 0.05) to moderate or severe hearing loss in multivariable-adjusted models. Steroid esters were enriched for negative associations, and triglycerides were enriched for positive associations. Triglycerides with fewer double bonds were enriched for significant, positive associations with hearing loss (p = 0.04).1

“In this population-based investigation,” write the authors of the study,1 “we identified that triglycerides were enriched for positive associations, while steroid esters were inversely associated with adult-onset moderate or severe hearing loss. This study indicates that metabolic perturbations may contribute to the pathoetiology underlying adult-onset hearing loss.”

The researchers admit that their analysis was conducted based on just one dataset; the validation of the findings in independent datasets, therefore, would be useful. In addition, the metabolite score estimate may have been subject to overfitting because of the lack of an independent replication dataset and therefore cannot be interpreted as a validation of the metabolite associations. This estimate may be informative, however, as a summary measure of the metabolite set association with hearing loss. Furthermore, the study population included female health care professionals who were predominantly white; the researchers suggest, as a result, the researchers believe that the inclusion of men, as well as additional populations of women, is needed in any further study.1

Read More on Similar Topics

Sensitive Isocratic RP-HPLC–Fluorescence Method for OPA-Ethanethiol Derivatized Gentamicin in Small-Volume Biological Samples

LC–MS Analysis of Dexamethasone Release from Drug-Coated Cochlear Implant Carriers

References

  1. Li, Y.; Balasubramanian, R.; Welling, D. B. et al. A Plasma Metabolomic Fingerprint of Moderate or Severe Hearing Loss. Metabolomics 2026, 22 (2), 31. DOI: 10.1007/s11306-026-02395-8
  2. Dalton, D. S.; Cruickshanks, K. J.; Klein, B. E. et al. The Impact of Hearing Loss on Quality of Life in Older Adults. Gerontologist 2003, 43 (5), 661-8. DOI: 10.1093/geront/43.5.661
  3. McDaid, D.; Park, A. L.; Chadha, S. Estimating the Global Costs of Hearing Loss. Int J Audiol. 2021, 60 (3), 162-170. DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2021.1883197
  4. Wilson, B. S.; Tucci, D. L. Addressing the Global Burden of Hearing Loss. Lancet 2021, 397 (10278), 945-947. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00522-5

Related Content