We have heard that Red meat is bad for our health, and we know that the high cholesterol content of the meat is what causes atherosclerosis by accumulating in blood vessels. But a new study has found that bacteria in our gut may in fact contribute to heart disease risk. Although this is quite confounding as we have never heard of the involvement of bacteria in heart health, Stanley hazen, the section head and a biochemist at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio had published that L-Carnitine in red meat and some energy drinks and supplements may be converted into Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) by the gut bacteria and contribute to elevated heart disease risk.
His study shows that TMAO promotes the accumulation of cholesterol by the immune cells in the arteries. Hazen first saw a correlation between high levels of TMAO in blood and heart disease risk. Then he wondered if L-Carnitine which is prevalent in Red meat could possibly be converted by gut bacteria into TMAO. His initial study on volunteers showed a rise in TMAO levels after consumption of Red meat. After repeating his earlier study on volunteers who have taken antibiotics the second time he found that there was almost no TMAO in the blood or urine. Also mice fed with high L-carnitine for 15 weeks had higher levels of TMAO. From the studies conducted by Hazen, we can assume that the conversion of L-Carnitine requires the presence of bacteria, and bacteria convert it to TMAO. I believe that in vitro studies showing a direct conversion of L-carnitine into TMAO by bacteria can provide further strong evidence. This new finding by Hazen can be very crucial in the future treatment of cardiovascular health.