Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40077735›Full record

ArticleNutrients2025

Low Plasma Choline, High Trimethylamine Oxide, and Altered Phosphatidylcholine Subspecies Are Prevalent in Cystic Fibrosis Patients with Pancreatic Insufficiency.

Wolfgang Bernhard, Anna Shunova, Julia Boriga, Ute Graepler-Mainka, Johannes Hilberath

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nutrients, 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
–field-weighted citation impact
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.

  1. Trial
  2. Multi-omics identification of amino acid and redox dysregulation in cystic fibrosis-related diabetes.Journal of cystic fibrosis : official journal of the European Cystic Fibrosis Society · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Review
  6. Article
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

5 authors.

Wolfgang BernhardDepartment of Neonatology, Children's Hospital, University Clinic, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-0307-223X
Anna ShunovaDepartment of Neonatology, Children's Hospital, University Clinic, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
Julia BorigaGeneral Pediatrics, Hematology & Oncology, Children's Hospital, University Clinic, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
Ute Graepler-MainkaGeneral Pediatrics, Hematology & Oncology, Children's Hospital, University Clinic, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
Johannes HilberathDepartment of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Children's Hospital, University Clinic, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.ORCID 0009-0005-0055-7452

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundExocrine pancreatic insufficiency in cystic fibrosis (CF) increases fecal choline losses, but the postnatal course of plasma choline and its metabolites in these patients is unknown. While choline homeostasis is crucial for cellular, bile, and lipoprotein metabolism, via phosphatidylcholine (PC) and via betaine as a methyl donor, choline deficiency is associated with impaired lung and liver function, including hepatic steatosis.

objectiveThe goal of our study was to evaluate the plasma levels of choline, betaine, trimethylamine oxide (TMAO), PC, and PC subclasses in CF patients from infancy to adulthood and compare those with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) to those with pancreatic sufficiency (EPS).

methodsRetrospective analysis of target parameters in plasma samples (July 2015-November 2023) of CF patients (0.64-24.6 years) with tandem mass spectrometry.

resultsA total of 477 samples from 162 CF patients were analyzed. In CF patients with EPI (N = 148), plasma choline and betaine concentrations were lower and decreased with age compared to EPS patients showing normal values. TMAO concentrations, indicating intestinal choline degradation by bacterial colonization, were frequently elevated in EPI from infancy onwards, and inversely related to plasma choline and betaine levels. PC-containing linoleic acid levels were lower in EPI, but arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acid content was similar in both patient groups.

conclusionCF patients with EPI are at risk of choline and betaine deficiency compared to exocrine pancreas-sufficient CF patients. Elevated TMAO concentrations in EPI patients indicate increased bacterial colonization leading to choline degradation before absorption. These findings indicate that laboratory testing of choline, betaine, and TMAO as well as clinical trials on choline supplementation are warranted in CF patients.

Indexed as

CholineCystic FibrosisExocrine Pancreatic InsufficiencyMethylaminesPhosphatidylcholinesAdolescentAdultBetaineChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansInfantMaleRetrospective StudiesYoung AdultBetaineCholineMethylaminesPhosphatidylcholinestrimethyloxaminebetainecholine deficiencycystic fibrosisexocrine pancreas insufficiencyhepatosteatosisPEMTphosphatidylcholineSIBOTMAO

Identifiers

PMID40077735
PMCPMC11901616

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Registered trials

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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.