Causes And Risk Factors Of Trimethylaminuria

Premature Infants

Babies who are born too soon can have a multitude of serious problems. Even babies who are near-term and full-term commonly have liver problems shortly after birth. It's not uncommon for newborns to display jaundice, which is a yellowing of the skin, whites of the eyes, and tongue. This yellowing is due to immature liver function. A treatment that involves UVA, or ultraviolet light, is often administered to these infants. The UVA light helps the infant's body break down jaundice and clear it from the system faster. Premature infants may show temporary symptoms of trimethylaminuria due to their immature liver function. These symptoms generally clear quickly as the baby's liver matures. Premature infants may also show signs of trimethylaminuria because they are fed a formula too high in choline, a methyl-based nutrient. Choline contributes to the formation of TMA. In a premature infant, too much choline may produce transient symptoms of trimethylaminuria.