Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2017 Jan:179:108-115.
doi: 10.1016/j.trsl.2016.07.007. Epub 2016 Jul 18.

Microbiome, trimethylamine N-oxide, and cardiometabolic disease

W H Wilson Tang  1 , Stanley L Hazen  2
Affiliations
Free PMC article
Review

Microbiome, trimethylamine N-oxide, and cardiometabolic disease

W H Wilson Tang et al. Transl Res. 2017 Jan.
Free PMC article

Abstract

There is increasing appreciation that changes in microbiome composition and function can promote long-term susceptibility for cardiometabolic risk. Gut microbe-derived metabolites that are biologically active, such as trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), are now recognized as contributors to atherogenesis. This review summarizes our current understanding of the role of TMAO in the pathogenesis of cardiometabolic diseases and will discuss current findings, controversies, and further perspectives in this new area of investigation. Better appreciation of the interactions between dietary nutrient intake with gut microbiota-mediated metabolism may provide clinical insights into defining individuals at risk for disease progression in cardiometabolic diseases, as well as additional potential therapeutic targets for reducing risks for cardiometabolic disease progression.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Dr. Tang has no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose.

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Aron-Wisnewsky J, Clement K. The gut microbiome, diet, and links to cardiometabolic and chronic disorders. Nat Rev Nephrol. 2016;12:169–181. - PubMed
    1. Brown JM, Hazen SL. The gut microbial endocrine organ: Bacterially derived signals driving cardiometabolic diseases. Annu Rev Med. 2015;66:343–359. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Tang WH, Hazen SL. The contributory role of gut microbiota in cardiovascular disease. J Clin Invest. 2014;124:4204–4211. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Tang WH, Wang Z, Levison BS, Koeth RA, Britt EB, Fu X, Wu Y, Hazen SL. Intestinal microbial metabolism of phosphatidylcholine and cardiovascular risk. N Engl J Med. 2013;368:1575–1584. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Wang Z, Klipfell E, Bennett BJ, Koeth R, Levison BS, Dugar B, Feldstein AE, Britt EB, Fu X, Chung YM, Wu Y, Schauer P, Smith JD, Allayee H, Tang WH, DiDonato JA, Lusis AJ, Hazen SL. Gut flora metabolism of phosphatidylcholine promotes cardiovascular disease. Nature. 2011;472:57–63. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types