1 – Untargeted or Targeted Metabolomics – Which Approach is Right for You?
Metabolomics analyses can be divided into two main categories: 1) global untargeted and 2) targeted metabolomics. Each approach has its own advantages, applications and limitations as outlined below.
Targeted metabolomics enables validation and absolute quantification of a chosen subset of metabolites (e.g., metabolites within a specific pathway). As such, this method can also be used to complement an untargeted approach.
Global, untargeted metabolomics is hypothesis-generating. It is typically performed to collect and analyze all detectable metabolites in a sample. As a discovery approach, global, untargeted analysis can also reveal novel compounds and chemical unknowns potentially leading to new insights in disease mechanism or treatment. As a result, various levels of detail and validation can be achieved.
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