Trimethylamine‐N‐oxide (TMAO) response to animal source foods varies among healthy young men and is influenced by their gut microbiota composition: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Consumption of fish yielded substantially greater increases in circulating TMAO than eggs or beef. The higher Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes enrichment among men exhibiting a greater response to dietary TMAO precursor intake indicates that TMAO production is a function of individual differences in the gut microbiome.

The Role of the Skin and Gut Microbiome in Psoriatic Disease

“…[51, 50, 52] A cross over feeding trial in healthy men found more Firmicutes than Bacteroidetes within the stool of participants who were high-TMAO producers. [53] Increased levels of Firmicutes with a decrease in Bacteroidetes has also been associated with a higher body mass index, while successful weight loss led to a subsequent increase in Bacteroidetes and a reduction in Firmicutes . [54] At the same time, obesity is a common comorbidity of psoriasis and psoriatic disease severity has been positively correlated with body mass index and waist to height ratio.…”

The Effect of Lean‐Seafood and Non‐Seafood Diets on Fecal Metabolites and Gut Microbiome: Results from a Randomized Crossover Intervention Study

“…This pathway of TMAO generation is dependent on gut bacterial TMA‐lyase, which produces TMA that is subsequently absorbed and oxidized by the hepatic enzyme flavin‐containing monooxygenase 3 (FMO3). However, lean fish consumption, a major dietary source of TMAO, yields ≈50 times higher circulating concentrations of TMAO compared to beef and eggs . High circulating TMAO levels have been associated with CVD .…”

“…Furthermore, the increased risk of atherosclerosis may be associated with the abundance of TMA‐producing bacteria in the gut, and hence indirectly with the TMAO generated by oxidation of TMA in the liver, as suggested by Cho et al . Moreover, as fish is a major dietary source of free TMAO, and since the serum TMAO level increases rapidly after fish consumption, indicative of a direct uptake of free TMAO, it seems paradoxical that a high intake of fish in the diet reduces the risk of CVD . Recently, Krüger et al.…”

Trimethylamine N-Oxide: The Good, the Bad and the Unknown

“…Kühn et al measured fasting plasma levels of TMAO at two time points in the European Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-Heidelberg study participants and noted a significant intra-individual variation in TMAO levels [22]. In a crossover feeding trial, consumption of diet containing TMAO precursors such as eggs, beef and fish increased the blood and urine levels of TMAO [23]. Circulating TMAO concentrations in response to the fish meal was increased within 15 min of food consumption, suggesting that TMAO itself can be absorbed without undergoing processing by the gut microbes [23].…”

“…In a crossover feeding trial, consumption of diet containing TMAO precursors such as eggs, beef and fish increased the blood and urine levels of TMAO [23]. Circulating TMAO concentrations in response to the fish meal was increased within 15 min of food consumption, suggesting that TMAO itself can be absorbed without undergoing processing by the gut microbes [23]. However, not all studies found an association between diet and TMAO levels [22].…”