Genetics
Gut metabolite TMAO shows no link to genetically determined CETP levels in coronary artery disease patients (Sci Rep 2020)
Original title: Trimethylamine N-oxide and the reverse cholesterol transport in cardiovascular disease: a cross-sectional study
This cross-sectional study investigated the association between trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a gut-derived metabolite implicated in cardiovascular disease, and CETP polymorphisms rs12720922 and rs247616, previously identified as genetic determinants of circulating CETP, in 394 coronary artery disease (CAD) patients and 153 controls. The study found no association between TMAO and genetically determined CETP in either group, and no difference in plasma TMAO levels between CAD patients and controls. Trimethylamine (TMA) levels were lower in CAD patients than controls, and glomerular filtration rate significantly correlated with TMAO but not TMA. The authors conclude that the debate over whether TMAO is a harmful, diagnostic, or protective cardiovascular marker needs further study.
Original abstract
The early atherosclerotic lesions develop by the accumulation of arterial foam cells derived mainly from cholesterol-loaded macrophages. Therefore, cholesterol and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) have been considered as causative in atherosclerosis. Moreover, recent studies indicate the role of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) in development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The current study aimed to investigate the association between TMAO and CETP polymorphisms (rs12720922 and rs247616), previously identified as a genetic determinant of circulating CETP, in a population of coronary artery disease (CAD) patients (n = 394) and control subjects (n = 153). We also considered age, sex, trimethylamine (TMA) levels and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) as other factors that can potentially play a role in this complex picture. We found no association of TMAO with genetically determined CETP in a population of CAD patients and control subjects. Moreover, we noticed no differences between CAD patients and control subjects in plasma TMAO levels. On the contrary, lower levels of TMA in CAD patients respect to controls were observed. Our results indicated a significant correlation between GFR and TMAO, but not TMA. The debate whether TMAO can be a harmful, diagnostic or protective marker in CVD needs to be continued.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 19 August 2026. Methods.