Plasma proteome profiles predict diet-induced metabolic syndrome and the early onset of metabolic syndrome in a pig model

Obesity and related diabetes are important health threatening multifactorial metabolic diseases and it has been suggested that 25 % of all diabetic patients are unaware of their patho-physiological condition. Feeding behavior is often associated with the onset of the metabolic syndrome. We have developed a pig model for the study of metabolic syndrome and diabetes in Yorkshire × Landrace pigs. We used pigs because of human and pigs share many physiological similarities. The aim is to develop biomarkers for the early detection of the first signs of metabolic changes related to metabolic syndromes like diabetes. The objective of this investigation was to develop proteomics profiles differentiating healthy pigs and pigs with signs of early onset of metabolic syndromes, and with related insulin resistance metabolic syndromes. The results of this study suggest that metabolomics profiling of blood may be a powerful tool for measuring/monitoring physiologic conditions and/or phenotypic traits of pigs.