Diabetes is Associated with Higher Trimethylamine N-oxide Plasma Levels.
Recent studies have revealed strong associations between systemic trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) levels, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk. In addition, plasma L-carnitine levels in patients with high TMAO concentrations predicted an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and incident major adverse cardiac events. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relation between TMAO and L-carnitine plasma levels and diabetes. Blood plasma samples were collected from 12 and 20 weeks old db/db mice and patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. Diabetic compared to non-diabetic db/L mice presented 10-fold higher TMAO, but lower L-carnitine plasma concentrations at 12 weeks of age. After 8 weeks of observation, diabetic db/db mice had significantly increased body weight, insulin resistance and TMAO concentration in comparison to non-diabetic control. In 191 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention the median (interquartile range) plasma concentration of TMAO was 1.8 (1.2-2.6) µmol/L. Analysis of the samples showed a bivariate association of TMAO level with age, total cholesterol and L-carnitine. The multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that, in addition to L-carnitine as the strongest predictor of log transformed TMAO (p<0.001), the parameters of age, diabetes status and body mass index (BMI) were independently associated with increased log transformed TMAO levels (p<0.01).Our data provide evidence that age, diabetes and BMI are associated with higher TMAO levels independently of L-carnitine. These data support the hypothesis of TMAO as a cardiovascular risk marker and warrant further investigation of TMAO for diabetes research applications.
Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, Latvia.
M
M
Dambrova
Paul Stradins Clinical University Hospital, Riga, Latvia.
G
G
Latkovskis
Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, Latvia.
J
J
Kuka
Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia.
I
I
Strele
Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia.
I
I
Konrade
Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, Latvia.
S
S
Grinberga
Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, Latvia.
D
D
Hartmane
Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, Latvia.
O
O
Pugovics
Paul Stradins Clinical University Hospital, Riga, Latvia.
A
A
Erglis
Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, Latvia.
E
E
Liepinsh
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D002331:Carnitine / Q000097:blood*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008744:Methylamines / Q000097:blood*; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged
D008744:Methylamines; C005855:trimethyloxamine; D002331:Carnitine