The correlation between plasma trimethylamine N-oxide level and heart failure classification in northern Chinese patients

BACKGROUND Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) has been identified as a new biomarker of cardiovascular disease. Our aim was to evaluate the plasma levels of TMAO in patients with or without heart failure (HF), and to indicate the correlation between plasma TMAO level and HF classification in northern Chinese patients. METHODS A total of 112 control participants and 184 HF patients participated in this study. Plasma levels of TMAO and N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in all participants were examined and analyzed. RESULTS The plasma TMAO levels were remarkably higher in HF patients than that in control participants (7.0±0.6 vs. 1.5±0.1 μmol/L; P