A STROBE extension

Transparent reporting for metabolomic epidemiology.

STROBE-MetEpi provides a structured checklist for reporting observational studies that use metabolomic profiling in human populations, from study design and biospecimen handling to statistical analysis, biological interpretation, and data sharing.

Complete the checklistDownload the checklist template

Complete the checklist online or download the Word template and complete it offline.

Why STROBE-MetEpi?

Metabolomic epidemiology has expanded rapidly, but published studies often provide insufficient detail for readers, reviewers, and editors to assess the study design, biospecimen handling, analytical workflows, sources of bias, robustness of findings, and reproducibility. STROBE-MetEpi was developed to improve completeness and transparency in the reporting of this interdisciplinary field.

For authors

Use the checklist when planning and reporting a manuscript to ensure that critical design, laboratory, computational, and statistical details are described.

For reviewers

Use the checklist to assess whether the report contains enough information to appraise validity, reproducibility, interpretation, and generalisability.

For editors

Encourage authors to submit a completed STROBE-MetEpi checklist as supplementary material alongside relevant observational metabolomics manuscripts.

Scope and intended use

STROBE-MetEpi is a reporting guideline, not a manual for how to conduct a study. It is intended for observational studies in human populations using high-dimensional metabolomic profiling, including exploratory metabolome-wide analyses and hypothesis-driven or replication studies.

Studies addressed

  • Cohort studies
  • Case-control studies
  • Nested case-control and case-cohort studies
  • Cross-sectional studies

Technologies addressed

  • Mass spectrometry-based profiling
  • Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
  • Targeted and untargeted metabolomic approaches
  • Annotated and unannotated metabolite features

Not primarily addressed

  • Randomized controlled trials
  • Systematic reviews
  • Laboratory reliability or feasibility studies
  • Methodological development studies
  • Multi-omics studies requiring integrated reporting guidance

From biospecimens to biological interpretation

The checklist follows the typical flow of a metabolomic epidemiology study and makes visible the decisions that are often implicit or underreported.

1

Study design

Setting, eligibility, covariates, participant selection.

2

Specimen collection and storage

Sample type, timing, conditions, storage and handling.

3

Metabolite measurement

MS or NMR instrumentation, analytical method, acquisition.

4

Data processing and annotation

Software, parameters, metabolite identification, QA/QC.

5

Statistical analysis

Models, missing data, multiple testing, validation.

6

Biological interpretation

Pathway analysis, uncertainty, generalisability and limitations.

The STROBE-MetEpi checklist

The checklist contains 31 reporting items and subitems covering the title and abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, and other information. Authors can complete the checklist online and download the completed checklist as a Word file, or download the Word template and complete it offline.

SectionItemsWhat should be reported
Title / Abstract1Identify the work as metabolomic epidemiology; state design, analytical technology, biospecimen, and study size.
Introduction2–3Explain the scientific background, rationale for metabolomic data, objectives, and whether the study is exploratory, hypothesis-driven, or a replication effort.
Methods4–18Report study design, setting, participants, laboratory procedures, data processing, statistical modelling, validation, and pathway analyses.
Results19–24Report participant flow, metabolite counts, descriptive data, main analyses, validation statistics, and pathway or metabolite-set results.
Discussion25–28Summarise key results, discuss limitations, interpret findings cautiously, and address generalisability.
Other information29–31Describe funding, conflicts of interest, metabolomic data availability, and code sharing.
Recommended use: complete the checklist and submit it as supplementary material, indicating where each relevant item is addressed in the manuscript.
Open the interactive checklist

Resources

The STROBE-MetEpi website should make the checklist easy to download, explain the rationale for each item, and provide examples of transparent reporting.

STROBE-MetEpi Statement

Overview paper introducing the reporting guideline and the 31-item checklist.

PDF available on publication in January 2027.

Explanation & Elaboration

Detailed rationale, explanations, and published examples for each checklist item.

PDF available on publication in January 2027.