The relationship between serum trimethylamine N-Oxide level and carotid intima media thickness in untreated essential hypertension patients

Background Circulating trimethylamine N-Oxide （TMAO） level has been linked to adverse cardiovascular outcome and mortality in the general population, and atherosclerosis is a window of the cardiovascular disease. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the relationship between TMAO level and atherosclerosis in untreated essential hypertension patients. Methods We measured serum TMAO level in atherosclerosis, subclinical atherosclerosis and controls matched by age and sex. The link between serum TMAO level and CIMT was subsequently assessed. Results The level of serum TMAO was significantly higher in atherosclerosis pa- tients than in controls. Serum TMAO level was positively correlated with carotid intima media thickness （r = 0.783, P 〈 0.001）, and logistic regression indicated that TMAO was a risk factor of atherosclerosis （OR, 1.904; 95% CI, 1.197- 2.733, P 〈 0.001）. Conclusions Serum TMAO concentration positively correlates to carotid intima media thickness, and should be a good predicted biomarker for atherosclerosis.