Question: If I'm at risk of heart disease and phosphatidylcholine increases my TMAO, should I stop the supplement?
Short Answer: On a scale of one to ten, my concern about TMAO and cardiovascular disease is a three. There are thousands of things that should be given equal weight as potential contributors to heart disease, but TMAO gets the most attention because the Cleveland Clinic has an incredible PR machine to spread their research, which serves to bolster their financial interest in marketing the test. That said, it is not a universal necessity to supplement with phosphatidylcholine. If you are concerned about your TMAO, you can try substituting trimethylglycine (TMG), and ultimately judge the value of each supplement by whether it is helping you in a demonstrable way.
This is a clip from a live Q&A session open to CMJ Masterpass members. In addition to this episode, you can access two other free samples using this link:
https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/p/questions-on-phosphatidylcholine
In that batch of free episodes you will also find the answers to these questions:
- Vitamin K2 and Undercarboxylated Osteocalcin
- What to Do About Twitching
If you want to become a Masterpass member so you can participate in the next live Q&A, or so you can have access to the complete recording and transcript of each Q&A session, you can save 10% off the subscription price for as long as you remain a member by using this link to sign up:
https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/qanda
Learn more about the Masterpass here:
https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/about
This snippet is from the December 14, 2022 AMA. The full recording and transcript is reserved for Masterpass members. Here is a preview of what's included:
- Inositol, What Is It Good For?
- If undercarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOCN) has health benefits and vitamin K2 decreases it, what does that mean for vitamin K2 supplementation?
- Maragen Calcium
- Could slow methylation cause high selenium levels?
- My current thoughts on cholesterol and heart disease
- If I already have oxidative stress, what ducks should I have in a row before supplementing with iron?
- Is it safe to take eight milligrams of zinc daily without copper?
- What to do about developing sensitivities to an increasingly broad range of foods?
- What else to do about hemochromatosis besides phlebotomy?
- If gestational diabetes is just a biotin deficiency, why are women who are insulin resistant prior to pregnancy at higher risk for it, including women with PCOS?
- What to do about chronically elevated amylase and lipase?
- What to do about a non-drinker having very high GGT and occasionally high ALT?
- What are the most common vitamin and mineral deficiencies?
- What are the best supplements, vitamins, and minerals for OCD and depression?
- What is the connection between low pyruvate and high ketones?
- Is high LDL a concern if the carotid IMT and coronary calcium scan are clear?
- An algorithm to fix twitching
- Do I trust food allergy tests?
Here's a link to the full AMA: https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/p/recording-and-transcript-of-the-december
Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here.
Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.
