Gut microbiota – a new companion on the path of cardiovascular diseases progression: surprising roles of long-time neighbors

Abstract

The last decade is marked by the significant reinterpretation of the gut microbiota contribution to chronic disease progression. The researchers’ careful attention is focused on improving the understanding of the metabolic pathways of two dietary compounds – choline and L-carnitine, which stand at the origins of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) formation. This small molecule of great expectations has gained an impressive appreciation due to its ability to promote atherogenesis, and thus increasing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events and affecting patients’ prognosis. This paper aims to discuss updated concept of microbiota-dependent cardiometabolic consequences of consumption of food rich in quaternary amines as well as to touch upon the currently existing interventions in TMAO production, their limitations and future scientific directions.

Keywords

• trimethylamine n-oxide
• microbiota
• atherosclerosis
• metabolism
• cardiovascular markers