Betaine alleviates perturbations of a high fat diet

Male rats were provided with a standard liquid diet, a high-fat liquid diet (HF), or a HF diet supplemented with betaine (1%) for 3 wk.

HF diet intake:

- elevated hepatic triglyceride and serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)
- reduced antioxidant capacity of liver cytosol against hydroxyl and peroxyl radicals
- decreased hepatic S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) and glutathione (GSH)
- increased hypotaurine and taurine concentrations
- depressed methionine adenosyltransferase (MAT) activity
- elevated activity and concentration of cysteine dioxygenase and GSH S-transferase

Betaine supplementation of the HF diet:

- inhibited hepatic fat accumulation and serum TNF elevation
- prevented the decrease in cytosolic antioxidant capacity
- induced MAT activity and concentration
- increased hepatic SAM and GSH
- depressed elevation of hypotaurine and taurine

The results indicate that the metabolism of S-containing substances is significantly disturbed by the HF diet, suggesting a causal role of impairment of hepatic transsulfuration reactions in NAFLD. Betaine supplementation protects the liver from nonalcoholic steatosis and oxidative stress most probably via its effects on the transsulfuration reactions.

Kwon et al (2009). "Impaired Sulfur-Amino Acid Metabolism and Oxidative Stress in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Are Alleviated by Betaine Supplementation in Rats." J. Nutr. 139(1): 63-68.