Metabolic Syndrome, CVD Risk & Related Epidemiological Studies

Konstantinova et al (2008) "Divergent Associations of Plasma Choline and Betaine with Components of Metabolic Syndrome in Middle Age and Elderly Men and Women"

This epidemiological study found that high serum betaine was associated with low:

- serum non-HDL cholesterol
- triglycerides
- BMI
- percent body fat
- waist circumference
- systolic and diastolic blood pressure
- smoking

and associated with high:

- HDL cholesterol
- physical activity

Thus favorable cardiovascular and metabolic syndrome risk factors were associated with high betaine concentrations.

Papers 2004-7:

Shaw et al (2004) "Periconceptional dietary intake of choline and betaine and neural tube defects in offspring."

Yagisawa et al (2004). "Effects of intravenous betaine on methionine-loading-induced plasma homocysteine elevation in rats." J Nutr Biochem 15(11): 666-71.

Schwahn et al (2005) "Betaine is a determinant of plasma lipids in men."

Melse-Boonstra et al (2005). "Betaine concentration as a determinant of fasting total homocysteine concentrations and the effect of folic acid supplementation on betaine concentrations." Am J Clin Nutr 81(6): 1378-1382.

Ueland et al (2005). "Betaine: a key modulator of one-carbon metabolism and homocysteine status." Clin Chem Lab Med 43(10): 1069-75.

Olthof et al (2005) "Effect of homocysteine-lowering nutrients on blood lipids: results from four randomised, placebo-controlled studies in healthy humans."

Velzing-Aarts et al (2005). "Plasma choline and betaine and their relation to plasma homocysteine in normal pregnancy." Am J Clin Nutr 81(6): 1383-1389.

Verhoef and de Groot (2005). "Dietary determinants of plasma homocysteine concentrations." Semin Vasc Med 5(2): 110-23.

Olthof and Verhoef (2005) "Effects of betaine intake on plasma homocysteine concentrations and consequences for health."

Olthof et al (2006) "Effect of folic acid and betaine supplementation on flow-mediated dilation: a randomized, controlled study in healthy volunteers."

Olthof et al (2006) "Acute effect of folic acid, betaine, and serine supplements on flow-mediated dilation after methionine loading: a randomized trial."

Iqbal et al (2006) "Betaine, a novel antithrombotic agent for effective management of peripheral arterial occlusive diseases."

Iqbal et al (2006) "Betaine induced release of tissue factor pathway inhibitor and nitric oxide: implications in the management of cardiovascular disease."

Schwab et al (2006) "Orally Administered Betaine Has an Acute and Dose-Dependent Effect on Serum Betaine and Plasma Homocysteine Concentrations in Healthy Humans."

Cho et al (2006) "Dietary choline and betaine assessed by food-frequency questionnaire in relation to plasma total homocysteine concentration in the Framingham Offspring Study."

Francois H. T. Duong (2006). "S-adenosylmethionine and betaine correct hepatitis C virus induced inhibition of interferon signaling in vitro." Hepatology 43(4): 796-806.

Zeisel (2006). "Betaine supplementation and blood lipids: fact or artifact?" Nutr Rev 64(2 Pt 1): 77-9.

Bidulescu et al (2007) "Usual choline and betaine dietary intake and incident coronary heart disease: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study."

Schwahn et al (2007) "Betaine supplementation improves the atherogenic risk factor profile in a transgenic mouse model of hyperhomocysteinemia."

Chiuve et al (2007). "The association between betaine and choline intakes and the plasma concentrations of homocysteine in women."

Dalmeijer et al (2007). "Prospective study on dietary intakes of folate, betaine, and choline and cardiovascular disease risk in women."

Wallace et al (2008) "Homocysteine concentration, related B vitamins, and betaine in pregnant women recruited to the Seychelles Child Development Study."