Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is a product of the oxidation of TMA by flavin-containing mono-oxygenase 3 in the liver. TMAO levels predict risk for atherosclerosis and are elevated in patients with chronic kidney disease and obesity. TMAO levels are decreased in ulcerative colitis. TMAO increases atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- mice, suggesting that TMAO can directly induce cardiovascular disease. The biosynthesis of TMA is dependent on gut bacteria, providing a link between the biome and cardiovascular disease.
三甲胺氧化物（TMAO）是肝脏中经过黄酮单加氧酶3氧化三甲胺生成的产物。TMAO水平可预测动脉粥样硬化风险，并在慢性肾脏病和肥胖症患者中升高。而在溃疡性结肠炎中TMAO水平则降低。TMAO能够增加ApoE-/-小鼠的动脉粥样硬化程度，表明TMAO能够直接诱导心血管疾病。TMA的生物合成依赖于肠道细菌，从而提供了肠道菌群与心血管疾病之间的联系。