The Claim
In patients with established coronary artery disease, higher serum levels of trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) are negatively correlated with coronary flow reserve (CFR), indicating an association between elevated TMAO and reduced microvascular functional capacity.
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
In people with coronary artery disease, higher levels of a blood compound called TMAO are linked to a reduced ability of the heart's small blood vessels to increase blood flow during stress.
See the scientific wording
In patients with established coronary artery disease, higher serum levels of trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) are negatively correlated with coronary flow reserve (CFR), a measure of the heart’s ability to increase blood flow under stress, suggesting TMAO may be linked to impaired microvascular function.
Bacteria in the gut break down certain foods into a chemical that the liver turns into TMAO. TMAO makes blood vessel lining cells work poorly, causes white blood cells to build up fatty deposits in artery walls, and makes platelets stick together more easily. These changes narrow the small heart arteries and stop them from opening wider when the heart needs more blood, so the heart cannot get enough oxygen during stress.
What the research says
1 studyIn people with heart disease, higher levels of a gut-related chemical called TMAO are linked to worse blood flow in the tiny heart vessels when the heart is working hard—like during exercise. This suggests TMAO might be damaging those small blood vessels.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.