Fig. 2

Sex differences in the interaction between the microbiome and risk factors for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Sex-specific microbiome dysbiosis affects the secretion of metabolites produced by the intestinal microbiome, such as trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) derived from dietary intake of phosphatidylcholine and l-carnitine. Such metabolites affect atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk, through complex interactions with traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease, including diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obesity. Flavin mono-oxidase (FMO); hypertension (HTN); type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO); trimethylamine (TMA)