First Human NMR Metabolomics Study Reveals Distinct Blood Plasma Profile in Regular Kratom Users

Why it matters

This is the first study to profile blood plasma metabolites in human kratom users using NMR spectroscopy, providing objective biological evidence of how kratom affects the human body at the molecular level.

The big picture

Understanding how kratom affects human metabolism is critical for assessing its long-term safety and health effects. Most prior metabolomics research was conducted in animals; this Malaysian study provides rare, direct human data. Seven metabolites were significantly different between regular kratom users and non-users, pointing to measurable changes in energy, amino acid, and glutathione metabolism.

Key findings

• Study analyzed blood plasma from 37 regular kratom users vs. 12 non-users in Malaysia using NMR spectroscopy
• Kratom users showed higher levels of glycine, formate, dimethylamine, and N-methyltyramine
• Kratom users had significantly lower levels of pyruvate, L-pyroglutamic acid, and citrate
• Pathway analysis revealed perturbations in energy metabolism (TCA cycle, glycolysis), amino acid metabolism, and glutathione metabolism
• This is the first human blood plasma metabolomics study of regular kratom consumption, published in Food Research International (June 2026)

What they say

"These findings provide a better understanding of the metabolic alterations associated with long term kratom consumption in humans," the authors concluded, noting this was "the first study to profile metabolites in the blood plasma from regular kratom users using an NMR approach."

Bottom line

The first human metabolomics study of kratom users reveals significant alterations in energy, amino acid, and glutathione metabolism — providing new objective data on kratom's systemic biological effects.