John recently showed me a paper out of China where the researchers found that berberine downregulates the Choline-TMA-TMAO pathway, which is, in part, responsible for atherosclerosis, commonly known as hardening of the arteries.
Choline-TMA-TMAO pathway is a metabolic process that occurs in gut microbiota. It involves the conversion of choline, a nutrient found in various foods like eggs and meat, into trimethylamine (TMA) by gut bacteria. TMA then travels to the liver, where it is further converted into trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO).
Studies have found that TMAO promotes the development of atherosclerosis by several mechanisms, including:
- Increasing the production of inflammatory molecules that can damage blood vessel walls.
- Reducing the ability of the liver to remove cholesterol from the blood, leading to the accumulation of cholesterol in the arteries.
- Stimulating the proliferation of smooth muscle cells in blood vessels, leading to plaque formation.
Therefore, the Choline-TMA-TMAO pathway in gut microbiota plays a significant role in the development of atherosclerosis. Inhibiting this pathway can reduce the risk of atherosclerosis and associated cardiovascular diseases.
2 Comment
Question: if one is on AlphaGPC choline supplementation for neurological reasons, will berberine inhibit just this Ch-TMA-TMAO pathway or will it also prevent the good impacts of choline?
You might pick up “The Clot Thickens” by Dr. Kendrick out of the UK. It’s got some fantastic ideas about CVD that put berberine’s potential vascular-protective mechanisms of action in a different light. (One not bought and paid for by statin-loving pharmaceutical companies and their captured audience.)