Betaine reduces oxidative stress and inflammation

This study investigated the effects of betaine on the inflammatory process and the oxidative stress in rats with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) using control, model, low and high dose betaine groups. Except control group, all rats were fed with high fat diet containing propylthioracil (PTU), a fatty liver-inducing drug, to construct NASH model, and those in low (200 mg/kg) and high (400 mg/kg) dose group received betaine solution intragastric gavage.

Compared with control group, model group rats had:

- increased liver damage
- enhanced expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), inflammatory factor interferon-γ (IEN-γ), and cytochrome-related factor CYP2E1 mRNA in liver
- decreased expression of IL-10 mRNA
- increased levels of malonaldehyde (MDA) and nitrogen monoxide (NO) in liver
- no significant change in cytochrome-related factor CYP3A2

Compared with that in the model group, high and low dose betaine groups had:

- less liver damage
- attenuated expression of TNF-α, TEN-γ, CYP2E1 and CYP3A2 mRNA in liver
- enhanced expression of IL-10 mRNA
- decreased levels of MDA and NO in liver

There was a significant difference in the above parameters between the two betaine treatment groups. Betaine has protective effects on liver injury in rats induced by a high fat diet. The mechanisms may involve improvement in oxidative stress and suppressed expression of inflammatory factors.

Zhang et al (2008). "Effects of betaine on oxidative stress and inflammatory factors in rats with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis." Wuhan Daxue Xuebao (Yixue Ban) 29(5): 587-91.