Byproduct of intestinal bacteria may jeopardize heart health in patients with kidney disease

Blood levels of TMAO, a byproduct generated from intestinal bacterial as they metabolize dietary nutrients, progressively increase with advancing severity of kidney disease. TMAO levels are dramatically reduced when kidney function is restored following kidney transplantation, researchers say, noting that high TMAO levels are linked with an increased risk of atherosclerosis and premature death in patients with chronic kidney disease.