Research

Hormonal

Elevated plasma levels of Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) are associated with an increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, atherosclerosis, and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease.

If you have Chronic Kidney Disease, high TMAO levels are a strong predictor of heart problems and death. While you should still eat a balanced diet, be aware that high intake of choline (eggs, red meat) and carnitine (red meat) can lead to TMAO production by gut bacteria, potentially increasing cardiovascular risk. Discuss dietary precursors with your nephrologist.

GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
In humans, a positive correlation between elevated plasma levels of TMAO and an increased risk for major adverse cardiovascular events and death is reported.
Manuel Velasquez et al. · Toxins · 2016

Why this rating

Strong observational data in humans and mechanistic data in mice, though causality in humans is contested.

Source

Trimethylamine N-Oxide: The Good, the Bad and the Unknown

Manuel Velasquez et al. · Toxins · 2016

DOI 10.3390/toxins8110326

narrative_reviewCited 496×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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