Metabonomic Study of Biochemical Changes in Human Hair of Heroin Abusers by Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Ion Trap-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry

• DOI: 10.1007/s12031-015-0655-x
• Publication Date: 2015-10-07T06:18:20Z
• Authors: Pu Xie; Tie-jie Wang; Guo Yin; Yan Yan; Li-he Xiao; Qing Li; Kai-shun Bi
• Keywords: Adult; Male; 0301 basic medicine; Arachidonic Acid; Hydrocortisone; Heroin Dependence; Middle Aged; Glutathione; Myristic Acid; Linoleic Acid; Substance Abuse Detection; 03 medical and health sciences; Case-Control Studies; Metabolome; Humans; Sorbitol; Female; Hair

Hair analysis is with the advantage of non-invasive collection and long surveillance window. The present study employed a sensitive and reliable liquid chromatography coupled with ion trap-time of flight mass spectrometry method to study the metabonomic characters in the hair of 58 heroin abusers and 72 non-heroin abusers. Results indicated that certain endogenous metabolites, such as sorbitol and cortisol, were accelerated, and the level of arachidonic acid, glutathione, linoleic acid, and myristic acid was decreased in hair of heroin abusers. The metabonomic study is helpful for further understanding of heroin addiction and clinical diagnosis.