Trimethylamine N-oxidation in Turkish women with bacterial vaginosis

Sardas S., Akyol D., Green R., Mellon T., Gokmen O., Cholerton S.

PHARMACOGENETICS, vol.6, no.5, pp.459-463, 1996 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 6 Issue: 5
  • Publication Date: 1996
  • Doi Number: 10.1097/00008571-199610000-00010
  • Journal Name: PHARMACOGENETICS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.459-463
  • Gazi University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common cause of vaginal discharge in women of child-bearing age. A common symptom of this condition is a fishy-smelling vaginal discharge. Trimethylamine (TMA) is the substance which is primarily responsible for this distinctive odour. The ability to metabolize TMA is polymorphically distributed such that the majority of individuals metabolize a large part of the body burden of TMA to the odourless trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) which is excreted in urine with a small amount of TMA. However, in certain individuals, N-oxidation of TMA is impaired which results in the excretion of large amounts of TMA in the urine, breath, sweat and vaginal secretions.