TMAVA, a Metabolite of Intestinal Microbes, Is Increased in Plasma From Patients With Liver Steatosis, Inhibits γ-butyrobetaine Hydroxylase, and Exacerbates Fatty Liver in Mice

The authors identified a metabolite produced by intestinal bacteria, TMAVA, that worsens fatty liver disease by reducing production of the amino acid carnitine. Carnitine might therefore be used for treatment of fatty liver.