Research advances of amino acid metabonomics in renal diseases

Kidney is a major metabolic organ of human body. Amino acids are not only the basic components of protein, but also important metabolites in human body. Recent researches have demonstrated that amino acids play an important role in the pathophysiological development of various renal diseases. Through detecting the changes of amino acid spectrum in patients with different renal diseases, amino acid metabonomics may help to make early screening and diagnosis of the disease, guide later treatment and predict clinical outcomes. This review summarized the applications of amino acid metabonomics and discussed the clinical value of amino acid metabonomics in renal diseases.