Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40863168›Full record

ArticleMetabolites2025

Choline Metabolism to the Proatherogenic Metabolite Trimethylamine Occurs Primarily in the Distal Colon Microbiome In Vitro.

Anthony M Buckley, Sarah Zaidan, Michael G Sweet, Duncan J Ewin, Juanita G Ratliff, Aliyah Alkazemi, William Davis Birch, Ashley M McAmis, Andrew P Neilson

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Metabolites, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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

9 authors.

Anthony M BuckleyMicrobiome and Nutritional Science Group, Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, School of Food Science, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-2790-0717
Sarah ZaidanMicrobiome and Nutritional Science Group, Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, School of Food Science, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
Michael G SweetPlants for Human Health Institute, North Carolina State University, 600 Laureate Way, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-6547-1602
Duncan J EwinMicrobiome and Nutritional Science Group, Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, School of Food Science, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-6044-5368
Juanita G RatliffPlants for Human Health Institute, North Carolina State University, 600 Laureate Way, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA.
Aliyah AlkazemiMicrobiome and Nutritional Science Group, Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, School of Food Science, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
William Davis BirchFaculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-3352-1721
Ashley M McAmisPlants for Human Health Institute, North Carolina State University, 600 Laureate Way, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA.
Andrew P NeilsonPlants for Human Health Institute, North Carolina State University, 600 Laureate Way, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-5497-663X

Funding

Applied Microbiology International N/ABiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council N/AHatch program, USDA N/ANorth Carolina Agricultural Research Service N/AOIRC INFORM hub N/A
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesGut microbial metabolism of choline and related quaternary amines to trimethylamine (TMA) is the first step in the production of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a circulating metabolite that contributes to the development of atherosclerosis and other forms of cardiovascular disease (CVD). No data exist on regional differences in TMA production within the colon due to difficulties studying gut regions in vivo. A better understanding of TMA production by gut microbiota is needed to develop strategies to limit TMA production in the gut and TMAO levels in circulation with the goal of reducing CVD risk.

methodsWe employed our novel three-compartment MiGut in vitro model, which establishes three distinct microbial ecologies mimicking the proximal, mid, and distal colon, to study conversion of choline to TMA by human gut microbiota using isotopically labelled substrate.

resultsCholine-d

conclusionsThis novel finding suggests that while bacteria capable of converting choline to TMA exist throughout the colon, their activity may be different in distinct colon regions. The regional specificity of TMA production, if confirmed in vivo, has implications for both basic microbial ecology related to CVD and the development of strategies to control TMA and TMAO production, with the goal of lowering CVD risk. These findings warrant further study in vitro and in vivo.

Indexed as

cholinegut microbiomeTMA lyasetrimethylaminetrimethylamine N-oxide cutC

Identifiers

PMID40863168
PMCPMC12388646

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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.