Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37855344›Full record

SynthesisCurrent medicinal chemistry2025

The Effects of Statin Therapy on Circulating Levels of Trimethylamine N-oxide: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Tannaz Jamialahmadi, Željko Reiner, Maryam Matbou Riahi, Prashant Kesharwani, Ali H Eid, Zahra Tayarani-Najaran, Amirhossein Sahebkar

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Current medicinal chemistry, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
2.2field-weighted citation impact, top 12% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Gut microbes · 2026
    Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 4 institutions in 5 countries.

Tannaz JamialahmadiApplied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Željko ReinerDepartment of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Kišpatićeva 12, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia.
Maryam Matbou RiahiBiotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Prashant KesharwaniDepartment of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, 110062, India.
Ali H EidDepartment of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
Zahra Tayarani-NajaranTargeted Drug Delivery Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Amirhossein SahebkarApplied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Mashhad University of Medical Sciences · IRJamia Hamdard · INPolish Mother’s Memorial Hospital Research Institute · PLQatar University · QA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundGut microbiota is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) through the metabolites, which can induce atherogenesis. One of these metabolites is trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO). Some studies indicate that statins do not only decrease LDL-cholesterol and thus ASCVD risk, but they also affect gut microbiota. There are only a few studies on humans suggesting that statins might also decrease TMAO, but their results are not unanimous. This meta-analysis aimed to provide an answer as to whether statins do affect decreasing the plasma levels of atherogenic TMAO.

methodsA systematic literature search in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science was performed from inception to January 1st, 2023. To assess the quality of each study included in the meta-analysis, the Cochrane Quality Assessment tool 1 (ROB 1) was used. Comprehensive Meta-Analysis V3 software was used to perform the metaanalysis. The weighted mean difference was also used. A random effects meta-analysis was used to calculate the overall estimate of effect size. In the leave-one-out approach, one study was excluded from each analysis to evaluate the effect of each study on the overall effect size.

resultsRandom-effects meta-analysis of 3 studies including 244 patients demonstrated a significant decrease in plasma TMAO levels after statin treatment (WMD: -1.839, 95% CI: -2.391, -1.287, p<0.001; I2:0). The reduction in TMAO was robust in the leaveone- out sensitivity analysis.

conclusionStatins might reduce TMAO levels, but there is a need for further evidence from long-term studies taking into account different types and doses of statins.

Indexed as

Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase InhibitorsMethylaminesAtherosclerosisGastrointestinal MicrobiomeHumansHydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase InhibitorsMethylaminestrimethyloxamineatherosclerosiscardiovascular diseasegut microbiotametabolites.Statinstrimethylamine N-oxide

Identifiers

PMID37855344
OpenAlexW4387765009

What OpenQuestion holds

Texttitle and abstract
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.