Abstract
Introduction: This study investigates the impact of trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) on recurrent cerebral infarction in minor ischaemic stroke (MIS). METHODS: A rat model was used, with dietary choline levels adjusted to vary TMAO levels. TMAO was quantified via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and histological changes in brain and aortic tissues were analysed using HE staining. RESULTS: Data analysis showed that TMAO levels and neurological deficit scores increased progressively across groups, correlating positively with the severity of cerebral and arterial pathology. High choline diets significantly elevated TMAO levels, aggravating infarction and atherosclerosis, while low choline diets reduced these effects. CONCLUSIONS: TMAO demonstrated medium-high diagnostic value for neurological deficits, infarction size, and arterial damage. These findings suggest that elevated TMAO levels are linked to worse outcomes in MIS, highlighting the potential of TMAO as a biomarker for diagnosis and prevention of recurrent cerebral infarction.
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