In the field of diagnostic medicine, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)
spectroscopy has found wide applications. Simplicity of sample preparation, biological
safety, non-invasiveness, and non-destructiveness are the advantages of NMR based
metabolomic studies. One of the main drawbacks is lower sensitivity. This review
summarises the current achievements of NMR spectroscopy in the diagnosis of human
disorders. NMR spectroscopy has been useful in metabolomics-based diagnosis. NMRbased
screening for inborn errors of metabolism is practised as more metabolites can be
detected. Fast, simple and cost-effective screening is possible. Neuropsychiatric
disorders like schizophrenia, panic disorders, major depression, bipolar disorders and
autism-spectrum disorders have been investigated systematically using NMR
spectroscopy. NMR metabolomics is used in the search for biomarkers of infectious
diseases like tuberculosis, malaria and pneumonia, neurological disorders and
Parkinson’s disease. NMR metabolomics has been used in the identification of
biomarker for cardiovascular diseases and risk stratification. It has also been used in
cancer diagnosis and therapy. NMR metabolomics has been used to investigate
processes like transformation, progression, proliferation and metastasis in cancer cell
lines. Other examples for applications of NMR metabolomics include gastro-intestinal
disorders, endocrine and nutritional disorders, disorders of the nervous system and
respiratory system disorders. In the coming years, it is expected that further
developments to overcome the technical limitations will take place, making it one of
the key diagnostic modalities of the future.
Keywords: Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Magnetic Resonance Imaging,
Metabolomics, 1H MRS, 13C MRS, Inborn errors of metabolism, white matter
disease, N-acetyl aspartate, Choline, Creatine, Citrate, Neurological disorders,
Neuropsychiatric disorders, Cancer, Prostate cancer, Breast cancer, Skeletal
muscle disorder, Cardiac MRS studies, Bowel disorders, Urinary biomarkers,
Pediatric disorders.
