Urine metabolic profiling of dementia rats with vital energy deficiency using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with an orbitrap mass spectrometer.

Dementia is a chronic and multifactor-induced neurodegenerative disorder that occurs frequently in the elderly with weak constitution and insufficient vital energy. However, the relationship between vital energy deficiency and the occurrence and development of dementia is still unclear. In this study, a rat model of dementia with vital energy deficiency was established through intraperitoneal injection with d-galactose and AlCl3 and combined with exhaustive swimming. Changes in the dementia with vital energy deficiency rat model were assessed by examining behaviors, hippocampal histopathological and biochemical parameters, and serum biochemical parameters. Urine metabolomics based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with an orbitrap mass spectrometer was also used to discover endogenous metabolic profile and disease-related biomarkers and investigate the potential mechanism of dementia with vital energy deficiency. Among the 31 potential biomarkers that were identified, nine involved metabolic pathways. The four main types were phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan metabolism, taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, and citrate cycle and pyrimidine metabolism. The pathogenesis of dementia with vital energy deficiency is mainly neurotoxin accumulation and body aging that leads to oxidative stress injury and loss of neuronal protective substances. Vital energy deficiency inhibits the body's energy metabolism and eventually leads to aggravate the dementia.