Transferrin predicts trimethylamine-N-oxide levels and is a potential biomarker of cardiovascular disease.

Introduction: Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) is a circulating biomarker associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Production of TMAO is facilitated by gut microbiota and dependent on micronutrients such as choline, betaine, and L-carnitine, present in foods such as red meat and eggs.

Hypothesis: We sought to predict serum TMAO quartile levels among healthy individuals at increased risk of CVD using clinical data via an ordinal logistic model.