Betaine overcomes perturbations caused by choline deficiency

Rats were fed either a standard (25%) casein or soybean protein diet, however both diets were choline-deprived. The study found that:

- Hyperhomocysteinemia induced by choline deprivation was effectively suppressed by choline, betaine or methionine supplementation.

- Hepatic SAM:SAH ratio was improved.

They concluded that this might be a useful model for investigating the role of betaine in the regulation of plasma homocysteine concentration.

Setoue et al (2008). "Choline deprivation induces hyperhomocysteinemia in rats fed low methionine diets." J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo) 54(6): 483-90.