Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is a metabolite of choline, phosphatidylcholine, and L-carnitine (Item No.
21489).
1 It is formed by gut microbiota-mediated metabolism of choline, phosphatidylcholine, and L-carnitine to TMA followed by oxidation of TMA by flavin-containing monooxygenase 3 (FMO3) in the liver.
1,2,3 Dietary administration of TMAO (0.12% w/w) increases renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis, collagen deposition, and Smad3 phosphorylation in mice and increases aortic lesion area in atherosclerosis-prone
ApoE-/- mice.
1,4 Plasma levels of TMAO are elevated in patients with chronic kidney disease and decreased in patients with active, compared with inactive, ulcerative colitis.
1,2 Elevated plasma levels of TMAO are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
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