Diabetic nephropathy (DN) also known as diabetic kidney disease, is a major microvascular complication of diabetes and a leading cause of end‑stage renal disease (ESRD), which affects the morbidity and mortality of patients with diabetes. Despite advancements in diabetes care, current diagnostic methods, such as the determination of albuminuria and the estimated glomerular filtration rate, are limited in sensitivity and specificity, often only identifying kidney damage after considerable morphological changes. The present review discusses the potential of metabolomics as an approach for the early detection and management of DN. Metabolomics is the study of metabolites, the small molecules produced by cellular processes, and may provide a more sensitive and specific diagnostic tool compared with traditional methods. For the purposes of this review, a systematic search was conducted on PubMed and Google Scholar for recent human studies published between 2011 and 2023 that used metabolomics in the diagnosis of DN. Metabolomics has demonstrated potential in identifying metabolic biomarkers specific to DN. The ability to detect a broad spectrum of metabolites with high sensitivity and specificity may allow for earlier diagnosis and better management of patients with DN, potentially reducing the progression to ESRD. Furthermore, metabolomics pathway analysis assesses the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying DN. On the whole, metabolomics is a potential tool in the diagnosis and management of DN. By providing a more in‑depth understanding of metabolic alterations associated with DN, metabolomics could significantly improve early detection, enable timely interventions and reduce the healthcare burdens associated with this condition.

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