Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41353350›Full record

Observational studyBMC nephrology2025

Utility of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) as a biomarker for risk stratification in chronic kidney disease: a multicenter observational study.

Yuyan Lei, Junyi Jiang, Lulu Chen, Qing Fang, Chaopeng Li, Yunzhou Fei, Shaonan Qu, Zhiming Xia, Yanhong Ning, Min He and 5 more

Abstract readObservational StudyMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in BMC nephrology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Yuyan Lei *Department of Pharmacology, Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.
Junyi Jiang *Hunan Key Laboratory for Bioanalysis of Complex Matrix Samples, Changsha Duxact Biotech Co., Ltd., Changsha, China.
Lulu ChenHunan Key Laboratory for Bioanalysis of Complex Matrix Samples, Changsha Duxact Biotech Co., Ltd., Changsha, China.
Qing FangHunan Key Laboratory for Bioanalysis of Complex Matrix Samples, Changsha Duxact Biotech Co., Ltd., Changsha, China.
Chaopeng LiDepartment of Good Clinical Practice, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi University, Shihezi, China.
Yunzhou FeiHunan Key Laboratory for Bioanalysis of Complex Matrix Samples, Changsha Duxact Biotech Co., Ltd., Changsha, China.
Shaonan QuHunan Key Laboratory for Bioanalysis of Complex Matrix Samples, Changsha Duxact Biotech Co., Ltd., Changsha, China.
Zhiming XiaDepartment of Nephrology, Hunan University of Medicine General Hospital, Huaihua, China.
Yanhong NingDepartment of Nephrology, The Second Nanning People's Hospital, Nanning, China.
Min HeDepartment of Nephrology, Yuebei People's Hospital, Shaoguan, China.
Jin DengDepartment of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang, China.
Wei ZhangEngineering Research Center of Applied Technology of Pharmacogenomics (Ministry of Education, China), Hunan Key Laboratory of Pharmacomicrobiomics, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
Hao ZhangDepartment of Nephrology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China. zhanghaoliaoqing@163.com.
Dongsheng OuyanHunan Key Laboratory for Bioanalysis of Complex Matrix Samples, Changsha Duxact Biotech Co., Ltd., Changsha, China. ouyangyj@163.com.
Xiaohui LiDepartment of Pharmacology, Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China. xiaohuili@csu.edu.cn.

Funding

Hunan Science and Technology Youth Talent Support Program 2023TJ-N20Science and technology innovation Program of Hunan Province 2023RC3232Self funded research project of the Health Commission of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Z-A20231168
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundChronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant global health challenge with a multifaceted etiology. Risk stratification and timely intervention are crucial for mitigating CKD progression. Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a gut microbiota metabolite, has been implicated in CKD pathogenesis. However, the lack of standardized diagnostic assays for TMAO has limited its clinical applicability.

methodsWe conducted a multicenter observational study in Southern China. Plasma TMAO levels were quantified using a newly developed liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based diagnostic kit in a cohort of 272 participants, including healthy controls and CKD patients. We analyzed the correlation between TMAO levels and renal function indicators, evaluated the utility of TMAO for risk stratification in CKD, and assessed its independent association with reduced eGFR using multivariable logistic regression.

resultsPlasma TMAO levels were significantly elevated in CKD patients compared to healthy controls. TMAO levels increased with CKD severity and exhibited a strong positive correlation with serum creatinine (Scr) and a negative correlation with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). TMAO levels demonstrated excellent consistency with eGFR in both the full analysis set (FAS) and per protocol set (PPS) populations. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis indicated that TMAO could identify reduced eGFR with high accuracy (AUC: 0.916), which was confirmed by bootstrap validation. After adjusting for age, sex, hypertension, and diabetes, TMAO remained independently associated with reduced eGFR.

conclusionsOur findings suggest that TMAO is a promising and independent complementary biomarker for the risk stratification of CKD, though its prognostic value requires validation in longitudinal studies. The developed LC-MS kit enables robust clinical application. Further research is warranted to validate these findings in larger cohorts and explore TMAO's potential as a therapeutic target for CKD management.

trial registrationClinical Trails.gov identifier, ChiCTR2400089774 (retrospectively registered in 14/09/2024).

Indexed as

MethylaminesRenal Insufficiency, ChronicAdultAgedBiomarkersCreatinineFemaleGlomerular Filtration RateHumansMaleMiddle AgedRisk AssessmentBiomarkersCreatinineMethylaminestrimethyloxamineChronic kidney diseaseGut microbiota metabolitesRenal clearance rateTest kitTrimethylamine N-oxide

Identifiers

PMID41353350
PMCPMC12797744

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.