Objective Common forms of cardiovascular diseases are exceptionally complex, where several genetic and lifestyle/environmental factors are involved. The discovery of different risk factors will be crucial for prevention of these high mortality diseases. Metabolomic studies have broaden our understanding of cardiovascular phenotypes and have created possibility to find new biomarkers for disease risk prediction. Recently a targeted metabolomic study indentified a novel mechanism through which gut-flora and hepatic-mediated metabolism of dietary choline contributes to the development of cardiovascular disease. This study demonstrated that higher plasma levels of choline and two of its metabolites, trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and betaine, are associated with atherosclerosis in humans and mice. The current proposal aims to study the role of choline metabolites in cardiovascular and metabolic traits and to examine microbial role in this process. The possible role of choline-derived metabolites in perturbation of cardiometabolic phenotypes will be determined using well-characterized metabolic and cardiovascular-targeted samples. The second part of the project aims to study the role of gut flora in choline metabolic pathway. We will use different approaches in order to identify specific group(s) of intestinal bacteria responsible for the formation of TMA(O) from dietary choline. In summary, the results of the study will provide important insights into the mechanism by which novel metabolite-gut flora interplay contributes to the regulation of cardiovascular system. Fields of science social sciencessociologydemographymortalitynatural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologybacteriologymedical and health sciencesclinical medicinecardiologycardiovascular diseasesarteriosclerosis Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IOF - Marie Curie Action: "International Outgoing Fellowships for Career Development" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IOF See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-IOF - International Outgoing Fellowships (IOF) Coordinator TARTU ULIKOOL EU contribution € 248 299,80 Address ULIKOOLI 18 51005 Tartu Estonia See on map Region Eesti Eesti Lõuna-Eesti Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Andres Metspalu (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
