Trimethylaminoxide (TMAO) as a risk predictor and a target for the prevention and treatment of diseases of the cardiovascular and central nervous systems

Eremenko I. I.

Cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative disorders, research for different ways for their prevention and treatment are actual problems of medicine. Recent studies have revealed potentially common pathogenetic links for all of this pathologies which are associated with the status of the gut microbiota. This review analyzes one of the key metabolites of the intestinal microbiota – trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), and its relationship with the human body and the pathophysiology of metabolic syndrome, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer's disease. Special emphasis is placed on the participation of TMAO in the humoral regulation of metabolism, protein stability, and the immunotropic effects of TMAO. Author briefly described the pathophysiology of the above pathologies and the involvement of TMAO at certain stages of their pathogenesis. This review is attempt to critically examine TMAO as a significant metabolite of microflora and identify the role of TMAO as one of the links between the microbiota, metabolic disorders and complex processes underlying atherosclerosis and neurodegenerative disorders. In addition, author propose and describes perspective ways for the prevention and therapy based on the impact on the microbiota and its metabolites. The review is based on current research published in peer-reviewed journals.

Keywords:trimethylaminoxide, atherosclerosis, neurodegeneration