The investigators plan to use the recently developed oral carnitine challenge test (OCCT) as a tool to exam individual's trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) production capacity from their gut microbiota. By using data collected by OCCT, the investigators defined subjects as high-TMAO producer or low-TMAO producer and apply low carnitine/choline diet as dietary intervention for the high-TMAO producers. After dietary intervention for two months, the investigators conducted OCCT for the participants and compare the TMAO production capacity before and after the dietary intervention.
Patients diagnosed with cardiovascular disease at the CV clinics are being recruited to undergo the Oral Carnitine Challenge Test (OCCT) to assess the TMAO production capacity of their gut microbiota. Participants identified as high-TMAO producers will be invited to partake in a two-month vegetarian diet intervention, supervised by a registered dietitian, followed by a three-month period of reverting to their regular diet. The OCCT will be conducted before and after the vegetarian diet intervention, as well as after the diet recovery phase. Fecal samples will be collected and analyzed at the baseline, in the second month, and in the fifth month of the study.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
50
Patients will received dietary education and supervision by dietician to avoid high carnitine/choline foods including red meat, eggs...etc.
National Taiwan University Hospital
Taipei, Taiwan
TMAO production capacity
TMAO production capacity is measured by calculating the area under the curve of TMAO levels (quantification by LC-MS/MS) during the procedure of oral carnitine challenge test
Time frame: Baseline, at the second month (following a two-month vegetarian diet intervention), and at the fifth month (after resuming a regular diet for three months).
Compositional and functional changes of gut microbiota
The compositional and functional changes of gut microbiota will be evaluated by shotgun metagenome sequencing. Taxonomy will be calculated as relative abundance of species-level genome bins (SGBs) and specific bacteria genes will be quantified as Reads Per Kilobase per Million (RPKM).
Time frame: Baseline, at the second month (following a two-month vegetarian diet intervention), and at the fifth month (after resuming a regular diet for three months).
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.