Urinary excretion of methylamines in men with varying intake of fish from the Baltic Sea.
Fish contain methylamines, especially trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), trimethylamine (TMA), and dimethylamine (DMA). Further, DMA may be formed TMA and TMAO. DMA is a precursor of nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), which is a potent carcinogen. Levels of DMA, TMA, and TMAO in urine were used as indicators of the dietary exposure and in vivo formation of these amines in 44 men, representing 3 groups with different fish consumption habits. The levels of TMA (median 0.24 mmol/mol creatinine; range 0-2.7) and TMAO (median 38 mmol/mol creatinine; range 8-290) were significantly associated with the weekly intake of fish (r = .47, p = .001, and r = .53, p = .0002, respectively), while no such relation was found for DMA (median 24 mmol/mol creatinine; range 5-46). Further, urinary levels of TMA and TMAO were dependent on recent intake of fish.
Svensson
B G
BG
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
Akesson
B
B
Nilsson
A
A
Paulsson
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D004032:Diet; D004123:Dimethylamines / Q000652:urine*; D005399:Fishes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008744:Methylamines / Q000652:urine*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012623:Seawater; D013548:Sweden
D004123:Dimethylamines; D008744:Methylamines; C034516:dimethylamine; D003404:Creatinine; C005855:trimethyloxamine; C023336:trimethylamine