[Correlation between trimethylamine-N-oxide and cardiovascular metabolic markers]

To explore the correlation between serum trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) levels and cardiovascular metabolic biomarkers, so as to provide a basis for clarifying the impact of TMAO on cardiovascular metabolic disease.

Based on baseline data from the Beijing Fangshan Family Cohort collected from 2013 to 2017, totally 500 participants from 173 families were selected from the survey subjects. Serum TMAO concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The correlation between TMAO and cardiovascular and metabolic disease indicators was analyzed by a linear mixed effects model.

The mean age of the participants was (56.52±12.52) years, with 54.20% being male. Serum TMAO levels showed significant positive correlations with systolic blood pressure (SBP) and pulse pressure (PP). Each 1 μmol/L increase in TMAO was associated with a 0.74 mmHg increase in SBP (95%CI: 0.19-1.30, P=0.009) and a 0.64 mmHg increase in PP (95%CI: 0.21-1.08, P=0.004). Subgroup analysis showed that for each 1 μmol/l increase in TMAO in men, SBP and PP increased by 0.91 mmHg (95%CI: 0.24-1.57, P < 0.05) and 0.85 mmHg (95%CI: 0.37-1.35, P < 0.05), respectively. No significant correlation was found in women. In the population aged ≥60 years, each 1 μmol/L increase in TMAO was associated with a 1.10 mmHg increase in SBP (95%CI: 0.23-1.96, P < 0.05) and a 0.98 mmHg increase in PP (95%CI: 0.23-1.73, P < 0.05). No significant correlation was found in people aged < 60 years.

The current study found that high TMAO level was correlated with the increase of SBP and PP, and TMAO might be an influencing factor of blood pressure level. No statistically significant correlation was found between TMAO and blood glucose and lipid indicators.