Cleveland Clinic researchers person discovered a relationship betwixt elevated humor levels of TMAO (trimethylamine N-oxide) - a byproduct of gut germs digestion of nutrients recovered successful reddish nutrient and different animal products - and a higher consequence of abdominal aortic aneurysms.
The findings, published coming successful JAMA Cardiology, propose that TMAO whitethorn play a domiciled successful nan development, progression, and severity of this life-threatening condition, including faster rates of aneurysm description and greater consequence for needing surgery.
These results propose targeting TMAO levels whitethorn thief forestall and dainty aneurysmal illness beyond surgery. We presently person nary therapies isolated from room aliases percutaneous involution to dainty abdominal aortic aneurysms that are peculiarly effective, and we person nary humor tests to foretell who is going to person an aneurysm and who will do well. With 1 of nan largest volumes of aortic cases successful nan United States, we dream we tin use these findings to thief early patients."
Scott Cameron, M.D., lead author, section caput of Vascular Medicine astatine Cleveland Clinic
Abdominal aortic aneurysm is simply a bulge successful nan portion of nan aorta that runs done nan abdomen. Normally, nan aorta's wall is beardown capable to negociate nan changeless unit of humor pumped retired by nan heart. However, various factors for illustration aging, smoking and different aesculapian conditions tin weaken it.
Abdominal aortic aneurysms impact millions of patients annually and tin rupture pinch an accrued consequence arsenic they enlarge. An aneurysm repair by either endovascular (performed wrong nan humor vessels) aliases unfastened room is typically recommended for larger aneurysms. Abdominal aortic aneurysms usually person nary symptoms until they rupture aliases are adjacent to rupturing.
"TMAO is made by gut microbes, pinch levels being higher erstwhile eating animal products and reddish meat" said elder writer Stanley Hazen, M.D., Ph.D., chair of Cleveland Clinic's Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences Department and co-section caput of Preventive Cardiology. "Medication targeting this pathway has been shown to artifact aneurysm improvement and rupture successful preclinical models but are not yet disposable for humans. These results are important to stock because they show really important fare whitethorn beryllium successful helping forestall aliases dainty patients pinch aorta dilation aliases early aneurysm compared to existent objective practice, which is to show until room is needed."
This study builds connected much than a decade of investigation led by Dr. Hazen related to nan gut microbiome's domiciled successful cardiovascular wellness and disease, including adverse effects of TMAO. The investigation squad has published galore studies linking precocious TMAO levels to accrued consequence of processing some chronic kidney illness and cardiovascular disease, including adverse events for illustration bosom onslaught and stroke.
Dr. Hazen besides directs Cleveland Clinic's Center for Microbiome and Human Health and holds nan Jan Bleeksma Chair successful Vascular Cell Biology and Atherosclerosis. His seminal discoveries related to nan engagement of nan gut microbiome including nan TMAO pathway successful cardiovascular and metabolic diseases person been replicated astir nan world. TMAO testing is now wide disposable and has been incorporated successful objective practice.
Source:
Journal reference:
Cameron, S. J., et al. (2025). Circulating Trimethylamine N-Oxide and Growth Rate of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms and Surgical Risk. JAMA Cardiology. doi.org/10.1001/jamacardio.2025.2698.