Table 1.
Characteristics of 6785 participants in MESA, by quintiles of plasma TMAO levels at baselinea
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Q5 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n | 1359 | 1357 | 1355 | 1357 | 1357 | 6785 |
| TMAO range, µmol/L | 0.10–2.21 | 2.22–3.04 | 3.05–4.16 | 4.17–6.29 | 6.30–129.16 | 0.1− 129.16 |
| Sociodemographic | ||||||
| Age, years | 59.0 ± 9.9 | 61.2 ± 9.9 | 62.6 ± 9.9 | 63.5 ± 10.1 | 64.5 ± 10.4 | 62.2 ± 10.2 |
| Male sex | 604 (44.4) | 595 (43.8) | 639 (47.2) | 684 (50.4) | 680 (50.1) | 3202 (47.2) |
| Race | ||||||
| ȃWhite | 402 (29.6) | 523 (38.5) | 534 (39.4) | 580 (42.7) | 575 (42.4) | 2614 (38.5) |
| ȃBlack | 404 (29.7) | 364 (26.8) | 377 (27.8) | 365 (26.9) | 367 (27.0) | 1877 (27.7) |
| ȃHispanic | 336 (24.7) | 313 (23.1) | 293 (21.6) | 290 (21.4) | 259 (19.1) | 1491 (22.0) |
| ȃChinese—American | 217 (16.0) | 157 (11.6) | 151 (11.1) | 122 (9.0) | 156 (11.5) | 803 (11.8) |
| Education | ||||||
| ȃ<High school | 256 (18.8) | 252 (18.6) | 231 (17.0) | 238 (17.5) | 246 (18.1) | 1223 (18.0) |
| ȃHigh school | 212 (15.6) | 254 (18.7) | 254 (18.7) | 262 (19.3) | 251 (18.5) | 1233 (18.2) |
| ȃSome college/technical school/associate degree | 410 (30.2) | 366 (27.0) | 399 (29.4) | 391 (28.8) | 367 (27.0) | 1933 (28.5) |
| ȃBachelor | 253 (18.6) | 258 (19.0) | 213 (15.7) | 231 (17.0) | 217 (16.0) | 1172 (17.3) |
| ȃGraduate school | 228 (16.8) | 227 (16.7) | 258 (19.0) | 235 (17.3) | 276 (20.3) | 1224 (18.0) |
| Annual household income | ||||||
| ȃ<$20 000 | 320 (23.5) | 298 (22.0) | 364 (26.9) | 315 (23.2) | 329 (24.2) | 1626 (24.0) |
| ȃ$20 000–<$50 000 | 508 (37.4) | 493 (36.3) | 488 (36.0) | 535 (39.4) | 493 (36.3) | 2517 (37.1) |
| ȃ$50 000–<$100 000 | 360 (26.5) | 377 (27.8) | 336 (24.8) | 338 (24.9) | 328 (24.2) | 1739 (25.6) |
| ȃ≥$100 000 | 171 (12.6) | 189 (13.9) | 167 (12.3) | 169 (12.5) | 207 (15.3) | 903 (13.3) |
| Lifestyles | ||||||
| Smoking | ||||||
| ȃNever smoked | 713 (52.5) | 707 (52.1) | 665 (49.1) | 668 (49.2) | 659 (48.6) | 3412 (50.3) |
| ȃFormer smoker | 437 (32.2) | 477 (35.2) | 522 (38.5) | 523 (38.5) | 529 (39.0) | 2488 (36.7) |
| ȃCurrent smoker | 209 (15.4) | 173 (12.7) | 168 (12.4) | 166 (12.2) | 169 (12.5) | 885 (13.0) |
| Alcohol (drinks/week) | 0.0 (0.0–3.0) | 0.0 (0.0–3.1) | 0.0 (0.0–3.0) | 0.0 (0.0–3.0) | 0.0 (0.0–3.0) | 0.0 (0.0–3.0) |
| Exercise (MET)-minutes/week | 825 (150–2070) | 840 (210–1958) | 840 (105–2048) | 840 (123–2100) | 760 (35–1920) | 825 (105–2028) |
| Alternate healthy eating index (AHEI)b | 41.1 ± 11.5 | 41.3 ± 11.7 | 41.0 ± 11.4 | 41.1 ± 12.0 | 40.6 ± 11.3 | 41.0 ± 11.6 |
| Total energy, kcal/day | 1644 ± 907 | 1606 ± 881 | 1650 ± 896 | 1642 ± 880 | 1577 ± 804 | 1624 ± 875 |
| Metabolic factors | ||||||
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | 27.6 ± 5.6 | 28.2 ± 5.3 | 28.4 ± 5.4 | 28.9 ± 5.6 | 28.6 ± 5.4 | 28.3 ± 5.5 |
| Waist circumference, cm | 95.2 ± 14.6 | 97.4 ± 14.0 | 98.6 ± 14.3 | 100.0 ± 14.1 | 99.6 ± 14.7 | 98.2 ± 14.4 |
| Systolic blood pressure, mmHg | 125 ± 22 | 125 ± 21 | 127 ± 21 | 128 ± 22 | 128 ± 22 | 127 ± 21 |
| Diastolic blood pressure, mmHg | 72 ± 10 | 72 ± 10 | 72 ± 10 | 72 ± 11 | 72 ± 10 | 72 ± 10 |
| HDL cholesterol, mg/dL | 52 ± 14 | 52 ± 16 | 51 ± 14 | 50 ± 15 | 50 ± 15 | 51 ± 15 |
| LDL cholesterol, mg/dL | 118 ± 32 | 118 ± 32 | 118 ± 33 | 115 ± 32 | 115 ± 33 | 117 ± 32 |
| Triglycerides, mg/dL | 105 (75–157) | 110 (77–155) | 113 (81–161) | 115 (79–166) | 112 (77–162) | 111 (78–161) |
| C-reactive protein, mg/L | 1.6 (0.7–4.0) | 2.0 (0.8–4.4) | 1.9 (0.9–4.4) | 2.1 (0.9–4.4) | 2.0 (0.9–4.2) | 1.9 (0.8–4.3) |
| Fasting glucose, mg/dL | 95 ± 29 | 95 ± 27 | 97 ± 27 | 100 ± 34 | 100 ± 33 | 97 ± 30 |
| Estimated glomerular filtration rate, mL/min/1.73 m2 | 98 ± 15 | 93 ± 15 | 90 ± 17 | 86 ± 18 | 83 ± 22 | 90 ± 18 |
| Medical history c | ||||||
| Diabetes mellitus | 115 (8.5) | 139 (10.2) | 155 (11.4) | 202 (14.9) | 241 (17.8) | 852 (12.6) |
| Cancer (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) | 54 (4.0) | 69 (5.1) | 94 (6.9) | 102 (7.5) | 83 (6.1) | 402 (5.9) |
| Emphysema | 20 (1.5) | 20 (1.5) | 23 (1.7) | 19 (1.4) | 20 (1.5) | 102 (1.5) |
| Liver disease | 45 (3.3) | 44 (3.2) | 41 (3.0) | 50 (3.7) | 55 (4.1) | 235 (3.5) |
| Anti-hypertensive medication | 365 (26.9) | 434 (32.0) | 508 (37.5) | 593 (43.7) | 623 (45.9) | 2523 (37.2) |
| Lipid-lowering medication | 188 (13.8) | 205 (15.1) | 218 (16.1) | 245 (18.1) | 245 (18.1) | 1101 (16.2) |
| Antibiotics | 50 (3.7) | 33 (2.4) | 38 (2.8) | 41 (3.0) | 43 (3.2) | 205 (3.0) |
Data are mean ± SD or median (interquartile range, 25th – 75th percentile) for continuous variables and n (%) for categorical variables.
Baseline was defined as the first TMAO measurement (n = 6776 at exam 1, n = 5623 at exam 4). All participants were free of CVD at baseline.
Total AHEI score can range from 2.5 (worst) to 87.5 (best).
Diabetes was defined based on treatment with either oral hypoglycemic agents and/or insulin or having a fasting plasma glucose level of ≥ 126 mg/dL. Cancer, emphysema, and liver disease were defined based on self-report. Medications were defined based on use in the past two weeks prior to baseline.