Sergio Andreu-Sánchez et al. published a paper “Unraveling interindividual variation of trimethylamine N‐oxide and its precursors at the population level” in iMeta in March 2024
Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is a circulating microbiome-derived metabolite implicated in the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD). They investigated whether plasma levels of TMAO, its precursors (betaine, carnitine, deoxycarnitine, choline), and TMAO-to-precursor ratios are associated with clinical outcomes, including CVD and mortality. This was followed by an in-depth analysis of their genetic, gut microbial, and dietary determinants. The analyses were conducted in five Dutch prospective cohort studies including 7834 individuals. To further investigate association results, Mendelian Randomization (MR) was also explored. Their analyses provide novel insights into the TMAO pathway, its determinants, and pathophysiological impact on the general population.
