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Understand TMAO (Trimethylamine N-Oxide)

TMAO (Trimethylamine N-Oxide)

Heart & circulation markers

What the test generally measures, and what to ask about it.

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Updated Jul 13, 2026

What is TMAO (Trimethylamine N-Oxide)?

A compound made when gut bacteria digest certain foods and the liver processes the result.

TMAO is produced when gut bacteria break down nutrients found in foods like red meat, egg yolks, and some fish, after which the liver converts them into TMAO that the kidneys clear. Higher levels have been associated in research with atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk, though a large part of that link appears tied to kidney function, and it is not yet settled whether TMAO causes harm or mainly reflects it. This is an advanced, research-oriented marker rather than a routine test.

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References

Peer-reviewed "Gut Microbiota-Derived TMAO: A Causal Factor Promoting Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease?" PubMed. doi.org/10.3390/ijms24031940.

About our sources

Clinical / professional

Medical societies, specialty colleges, and professional associations whose consensus statements reflect clinical practice standards.

Peer-reviewed research

Original research articles and systematic reviews published in indexed journals and verified through PubMed or DOI.

History of updates

Published · Jul 13, 2026
First published, written and independently fact-checked against the cited sources.

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