title: Mammalian-microbial cometabolism of L-carnitine in the context of atherosclerosis.
abstract: γ-butyrobetaine has long been known as the precursor of endogenous L-carnitine synthesis. In this issue, Koeth et al. (2014) demonstrate that it is also a major metabolite of L-carnitine degradation by gut bacteria that precedes the enteric production of trimethylamine and trimethylamine-N-oxide.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, The University of Reading, PO Box 226, Reading RG6 6AP, UK. Electronic address: s.p.claus@reading.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Sandrine Paule
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Claus
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D001622:Betaine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D002331:Carnitine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology*; D008744:Methylamines / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008744:Methylamines; D001622:Betaine; D002331:Carnitine