Methane is a main gas that cause the 'greenhouse effect' (Global warming).
Perhaps this is another reason for scientists to look at ways to block TMA formation.
Which in turn could lead to a therapy for human gut TMA formation.
TMA produced in marine environments :
I only heard of this TMA connection. Probably marine microbes produce TMA. Apparently the TMA is broken down to methane, which is a major part of the gases that cause global warming.
I have tried to look for the % stats for sources of greenhouse gases, but not been too successful.
One site said
% methane makes up greenhouse gases : 16% (2nd after CO2).
% of NATURAL methane sources are marine : 88% (78% wetlands, 10% sea).
This does not include HUMAN sources (e.g. petrol, coal, farming).
I would guess the marine TMA is a by product of microbe fermentation, which then is broken down to methane. Ironically this has been suggested as a possible therapy for TMAU, in that some microbes would break down the TMA in the gut. I guess so few are thought to have TMAU it would not add much to the total world methane output.
But ... this means it's in the world's interest to find TMA blockers, so that TMA does not produce methane. This would probably mean interfering with the enzyme that produces TMA. Antibiotics are often 'microbe enzyme inhibitors', so it's much the same thing as antibiotics.
So maybe there is research going on to prevent methane formation from TMA to save the planet.
3 main ways TMA could be inhibited or broken down (I know of) :
1. Interfering/inhibiting the microbe enzyme that produces TMA (antibiotics often work this way).2. 'Drugging the relevant microbes'. This seems to be the Cleveland method. They are tricking the microbes into working on a compound that is like choline but much more dificult for them to breakdown.
3. Use microbes to break TMA down via the methane pathway. Some microbes have enzymes that can break TMA down.
My thoughts on TMAU and systemic body odor
Any therapy that inhibited TMA formation or broke down TMA (e.g. to methane) would be good for anyone who thought their smell(s) were solely created by TMA. I am a bit sceptical that TMA is the only source of smells for most, so a bit worried such a therapy would not have the expected benefits. But I may be wrong.
Acronynms :
TMA : trimethylamine
TMAU : trimethylaminuria
Note :
graph and stats may be incorrect.
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