Correlation Between Plasma Trimethylamine N-Oxide and Lipid Levels in Hyperlipidemic Patients

  Objective   To investigate the correlation between the plasma levels of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and lipid levels in hyperlipidemic patients.

  Methods   A total of 130 patients who received treatment and underwent coronary angiography at the Heart Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University between March 2019 and March 2021 were enrolled. Patients' plasma TMAO levels were determined by stable isotope liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. The correlation between plasma TMAO levels and the levels of lipids, including triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), was analyzed.

  Results   Patients with hyperlipidemia had higher plasma TMAO levels (μmol/L) than patients without hyperlipidemia did (6.73±5.40 vs. 3.82±2.65), with the difference being statistically significant (P<0.05). After controlling for the effects of age and body mass index, partial correlation analysis revealed that plasma TMAO levels were positively correlated with plasma TG (r=0.286, P<0.001) and negatively correlated with HDL-C (r=−0.366, P<0.001).

  Conclusion   There is a correlation between plasma TMAO levels and lipid levels in hyperlipidemic patients.