Plasma levels of trimethylamine-N-oxide can be increased with 'healthy' and 'unhealthy' diets and do not correlate with the extent of atherosclerosis but with plaque instability.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

The microbiome-derived metabolite trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) has attracted major interest and controversy both as a diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target in atherothrombosis.

Methods and results

Plasma TMAO increased in mice on 'unhealthy' high-choline diets and notably also on 'healthy' high-fibre diets. Interestingly, TMAO was found to be generated by direct oxidation in the gut in addition to oxidation by hepatic flavin-monooxygenases. Unexpectedly, two well-accepted mouse models of atherosclerosis, ApoE-/- and Ldlr-/- mice, which reflect the development of stable atherosclerosis, showed no association of TMAO with the extent of atherosclerosis. This finding was validated in the Framingham Heart Study showing no correlation between plasma TMAO and coronary a

SUBMITTER: Koay YC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8599768 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature