Loading...
The genes of microorganisms that live within us affect our health (JW Gen Med Jul 24 2012). Animal studies have suggested a new cardiovascular risk factor: gut bacteria conversion of dietary lecithin to proatherogenic trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO). A team from Cleveland Clinic conducted two prospective studies of this compound.
First, 40 healthy adults were given meals with precisely measured high loads of lecithin, and resulting plasma levels of TMAO were calculated. Then, six of these participants were treated with antibiotics to kill a large fraction of gut bacteria and were rechallenged with lecithin. One month later, the same six participants were challenged a third time. Plasma TMAO rose sharply after the first and third lecithin chall…