Betaine and Muscle

This paper helps explain the positive effects seen on muscle by betaine.

Ortiz-Costa et al (2008) "Betaine protects urea-induced denaturation of myosin subfragment-1."

Myosin belongs to a family of motor proteins that transform the chemical energy of ATP into mechanical work.

Urea, a waste-product of protein metabolism, can increase due to exercise. Urea alters the structure of skeletal muscle myosin subfragment-1 (the catalytic domain), thereby inhibiting ATPase activity and reducing energy production.

Betaine, acting as a 'counteracting' osmolyte, was able to protect against these changes in structure, thereby preserving the enzyme’s catalytic activity.

Papers 2003-7:

Brigotti et al (2003). "Effects of osmolarity, ions and compatible osmolytes on cell-free protein synthesis." Biochem. J. 369(2): 369-374.