Trimethylamine N-Oxide (TMAO)
Hepatic FMO3 oxidation product of microbiota-derived trimethylamine (TMA), itself derived from dietary choline, phosphatidylcholine, carnitine, and betaine, associated in observational studies with cardiovascular and renal outcomes.
Also: TMAO
Hazen and colleagues proposed TMAO as a mechanistic link between red meat / egg / fish intake and atherosclerosis, via increased macrophage foam cell formation and platelet hyperreactivity. However, fish (which has very high preformed TMAO) is cardioprotective, and randomized intervention evidence for TMAO as a causal target is limited. MNHD treats TMAO as a notable but not yet established target.
How one textbook covers it
Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 12th ed. — Ch 33: Choline
Hazen and colleagues proposed TMAO as a mechanistic link between red meat / egg / fish intake and atherosclerosis, via increased macrophage foam cell formation and platelet hyperreactivity. However, fish (which has very high preformed TMAO) is cardioprotective, and randomized intervention evidence for TMAO as a causal target is limited. MNHD treats TMAO as a notable but not yet established target.
Related terms
Atherosclerosis, Carnitine, Choline, Microbiome