Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: The study was carried out to assess the level of TMAO expression and atherosclerotic plaque formation in South Indian Cohort and to validate TMAO as a biomarker for atherosclerosis which are increasingly implicated in atherogenesis.
METHODS: The prospective exploratory study was conducted at JSS Hospital, Mysuru, focusing on the South Indian population. The study was carried out with 55 participants, and the demographic variables, dietary patterns, alcohol consumption, and smoking status were documented systematically. Plasma TMAO concentrations were collected, and statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26.0.
RESULTS: The plasma TMAO levels with a mean concentration of 4.85 ± 0.84 µM, supporting the use of non-parametric analytical methods. Spearman’s rank correlation analysis demonstrated no significant association between TMAO levels and age (ρ = −0.025, p = 0.857), similarly Mann Whitney U test revealed no statistically significant difference between males and females (U = 440.5, p = 0.115). In multivariable linear regression analysis, the presence of comorbidities emerged as a strong independent predictor of elevated TMAO levels (β = 2.30, p < 0.001), while alcohol use and non-vegetarian diet were independently associated with higher TMAO concentrations (β = 0.58, p = 0.036). In contrast, age (p = 0.539), male gender (p = 0.253), and smoking status (p = 0.580) did not show significant independent associations.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings reinforce the relevance of the gut-heart axis and indicate that TMAO may serve as a biomarker for atherosclerotic risk stratification. The study also paved the way for personalized dietary and microbiome-targeted strategies to improve cardiovascular health to benefit the patients and researchers.