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Mihuta MS, Paul C, Borlea A, Roi CM, Pescari D, Velea-Barta OA, Mozos I, Stoian D. Connections between serum Trimethylamine N-Oxide (TMAO), a gut-derived metabolite, and vascular biomarkers evaluating arterial stiffness and subclinical atherosclerosis in children with obesity. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1253584. [PMID: 37850094 PMCID: PMC10577381 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1253584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Childhood obesity leads to early subclinical atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness. Studying biomarkers like trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), linked to cardio-metabolic disorders in adults, is crucial to prevent long-term cardiovascular issues. Methods The study involved 70 children aged 4 to 18 (50 obese, 20 normal-weight). Clinical examination included BMI, waist measurements, puberty stage, the presence of acanthosis nigricans, and irregular menstrual cycles. Subclinical atherosclerosis was assessed by measuring the carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), and the arterial stiffness was evaluated through surrogate markers like the pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index (AIx), and peripheral and central blood pressures. The blood biomarkers included determining the values of TMAO, HOMA-IR, and other usual biomarkers investigating metabolism. Results The study detected significantly elevated levels of TMAO in obese children compared to controls. TMAO presented positive correlations to BMI, waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio and was also observed as an independent predictor of all three parameters. Significant correlations were observed between TMAO and vascular markers such as CIMT, PWV, and peripheral BP levels. TMAO independently predicts CIMT, PWV, peripheral BP, and central SBP levels, even after adding BMI, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, puberty development and age in the regression model. Obese children with high HOMA-IR presented a greater weight excess and significantly higher vascular markers, but TMAO levels did not differ significantly from the obese with HOMA-IR Conclusion Our study provides compelling evidence supporting the link between serum TMAO, obesity, and vascular damage in children. These findings highlight the importance of further research to unravel the underlying mechanisms of this connection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Simina Mihuta
- Department of Doctoral Studies, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania
- Center of Molecular Research in Nephrology and Vascular Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Corina Paul
- Department of Pediatrics, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Andreea Borlea
- Center of Molecular Research in Nephrology and Vascular Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Cristina Mihaela Roi
- Department of Doctoral Studies, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania
- Center of Molecular Research in Nephrology and Vascular Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Denisa Pescari
- Department of Doctoral Studies, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Oana-Alexandra Velea-Barta
- 3rd Department of Odontotherapy and Endodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Ioana Mozos
- Department of Functional Sciences—Pathophysiology, Center for Translational Research and Systems Medicine, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Dana Stoian
- Center of Molecular Research in Nephrology and Vascular Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania
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Senchukova MA. Microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract: Friend or foe? World J Gastroenterol 2023; 29:19-42. [PMID: 36683718 PMCID: PMC9850957 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v29.i1.19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiota is currently considered an external organ of the human body that provides important mechanisms of metabolic regulation and protection. The gut microbiota encodes over 3 million genes, which is approximately 150 times more than the total number of genes present in the human genome. Changes in the qualitative and quantitative composition of the microbiome lead to disruption in the synthesis of key bacterial metabolites, changes in intestinal barrier function, and inflammation and can cause the development of a wide variety of diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, gastrointestinal disorders, cardiovascular issues, neurological disorders and oncological concerns. In this review, I consider issues related to the role of the microbiome in the regulation of intestinal barrier function, its influence on physiological and pathological processes occurring in the body, and potential new therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring the gut microbiome. Herewith, it is important to understand that the gut microbiota and human body should be considered as a single biological system, where change of one element will inevitably affect its other components. Thus, the study of the impact of the intestinal microbiota on health should be considered only taking into account numerous factors, the role of which has not yet been fully elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina A Senchukova
- Department of Oncology, Orenburg State Medical University, Orenburg 460000, Russia
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