TMAO

pTMAO relies only on the presence / absorption of gut TMA and next its absorption. In turn, gut TMA depends only on some dietary compounds and gut microbiota composition. Therefore pTMAO, the deleterious compound is the result of the morbid union of diet & gut microbes. As a proof, the use of antibiotics which destroyed the gut microbiota also inhibits the formation of plasma TMAO (visit 2 above) under a same diet eaten a few week before (visit 1) or after (visit 3) the antibiotic treatment (shown here in humans, experiment performed in Hazen's Lab, 2013).