TMAO levels and CAD Risk
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluation of Blood Trimethylamine Acid N-Oxide (TMAO) levels as a risk factor for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) in South Asians vs. Caucasians
IRAS ID
135417
Contact name
Pankaj Gupta
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospitals of Leicester
Research summary
Coronary artery disease (CAD) causes heart attacks. It is the main cause of deaths in the UK, causing almost one third of all deaths in a year. There are well established risk factors for developing cardiac disease such as smoking and diabetes. These factors do not explain the much higher rate of occurrence of CAD in South Asians as compared to Caucasians, indicating that there are as yet unidentified risk factors. Recently a chemical in blood called Trimethyl Amine N Oxide (TMAO) has been shown be related to an increase in the risk of CAD. TMAO is related to dietary intake and is formed by the action of gut bacteria. It has not as yet been studied in South Asians. We propose to study blood TMAO levels in South Asians and compare them with levels in Caucasians to determine whether TMAO levels are different in the two populations and a reason for the higher rates of CAD in the South Asians. We also plan to study the relation of blood TMAO levels with diet and its measurement variability. 600 participants (300 South Asians and 300 Caucasians) will be recruited from the Lipid and Hypertension Clinics at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL). A set of fasting bloods will be collected when patients attend the clinic. Their dietary and medical details will be obtained through a questionnaire and review of case notes. Also TMAO measured on the surplus sample from routine bloods performed at patient’s surgeries prior to their clinic visit will be compared to clinic TMAO levels. The study is expected to last for fifteen months. It is the first of kind and will help in better identification and management of CAD especially in the South Asian community. This is very important both to Leicester and the UK population.
REC name
East Midlands - Derby Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/EM/0411
Date of REC Opinion
20 Dec 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion