Betaine antioxidant effect protects against liver damage

This study showed that betaine may protect liver from fibrogenesis by maintaining cellular antioxidant capacity.

Male rats were supplemented with betaine (1%, w/v) in drinking water from 2 weeks prior to the initiation of dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) treatment (10mg/(kg day), i.p., 3 days/week, for 1, 2, or 4 weeks). Induction of liver injury was determined by quantifying serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase activities, bilirubin levels, hepatic xenobiotic-metabolizing capacity, histopathological changes and 4-hydroxyproline levels. Development of oxidative injury was estimated by malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and total oxyradical scavenging capacity (TOSC) of liver and serum toward hydroxyl, peroxyl radicals, and peroxynitrite.

Betaine supplementation markedly attenuated the DMN-induced hepatotoxicity, fibrosis and oxidative injury (e.g. elevation of MDA and the reduction of TOSC were depressed significantly).

Kim et al (2009). "Alleviation of dimethylnitrosamine-induced liver injury and fibrosis by betaine supplementation in rats." Chem Biol Interact 177(3): 204-11.

Individuality of plasma and urine betaine and DMG

The individuality (within subject consistency) of plasma and urine betaine and N,N-dimethylglycine (DMG) was compared in two groups of 8 males (ages 19 to 40) either over a single day or over an 8 week period. The study found that plasma betaine and urinary betaine excretions are more individual than DMG, and that plasma and urine betaine are highly individual in the general population.

Lever et al (2009). "Plasma and urine betaine and dimethylglycine variation in healthy young male subjects." Clin Biochem 42: 706-12.

Papers 2004-7

Lever et al (2004). "Short and long-term variation of plasma glycine betaine concentrations in humans." Clin Biochem 37(3): 184-90.

Slow et al (2004). "Betaine analogues alter homocysteine metabolism in rats." Int J Biochem Cell Biol 36(5): 870-80.

Lever et al (2005). "Homocysteine, glycine betaine, and N,N-dimethylglycine in patients attending a lipid clinic." Metabolism - Clinical and Experimental 54(1): 1-14.

Slow et al (2005). "The betaine content of New Zealand foods and estimated intake in the New Zealand diet." J Food Comp Anal 18: 473-85.

Lever et al (2007). "An abnormal urinary excretion of glycine betaine may persist for years." Clin Biochem 40(11): 798-801.

Lever et al (2007). "Inter- and intra-individual variations in normal urinary glycine betaine excretion." Clin Biochem 40(7): 447-53.

Lever et al (2007). "Sex differences in the control of plasma concentrations and urinary excretion of glycine betaine in patients attending a lipid disorders clinic." Clin Biochem 40(16-17): 1225-31.

Atkinson et al (2008). "Dietary and supplementary betaine: acute effects on plasma betaine and homocysteine concentrations under standard and postmethionine load conditions in healthy male subjects." Am J Clin Nutr 87(3): 577-585.

Betaine and choline content of wheat fractions

This present study suggests that the wheat aleurone layer contains the greatest concentration of both betaine and choline (1553 and 210 mg/100 g of sample, respectively). The bran fraction contained 867 and 102 mg/100 g of sample of betaine and choline, respectively, while the flour fraction contained 23 mg/100 g of sample (betaine) and 28 mg/100 g of sample (choline). The betaine content for the bran was lower, and the choline content was higher compared to previous studies, although it is known that there is large variation in betaine and choline contents between wheat cultivars. The study further emphasizes the superior phytonutrient composition of the aleurone layer.

Graham et al (2009). "Analysis of Betaine and Choline Contents of Aleurone, Bran, and Flour Fractions of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Using 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy." J Ag Food Chem 57(5): 1948-1951.

VLDL secretion and hepatic fat export

Chronic ethanol consumption impairs phosphatidyl choline (PC) generation via the phosphatidylethanolamine methyltransferase (PEMT) pathway. This results in diminished very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) secretion which contributes to the development of hepatic steatosis.

The VLDL secretion in rats fed with control, ethanol and the betaine supplemented diets was determined using Triton WR-1339 to inhibit plasma VLDL metabolism.

Betaine feeding resulted in increased VLDL production rates and fat export from the liver by increasing PEMT-mediated PC generation. This attenuated the development of alcoholic fatty liver.

Kharbanda et al (2009). "Betaine administration corrects ethanol-induced defective VLDL secretion." Mol Cell Biochem. Feb 19 epub.

Rett Syndrome

A 12-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled folate–betaine trial studied 68 females with Rett syndrome. Participants were randomized as young (< age 5 years) or old ( age 5 years). Structured clinical assessments occurred at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. Primary outcome measures included quantitative evaluation of breathing and hand movements during wakefulness, growth, anthropometry, motor/behavioral function, and qualitative evaluations from electroencephalograms and parent questionnaires.

Objective evidence of improvement was not found, but subjective improvement from parent questionnaires was noted for the <5 years group.

Glaze et al (2009). "A Study of the Treatment of Rett Syndrome With Folate and Betaine." J Child Neurol. Feb 18 epub.

Betaine inhibits atherosclerosis via anti-inflammation

Five groups of mice were studied: ApoE-deficient (model group and three betaine groups) and wild-type mice as control. The control group and model group were fed AIN-93G diet. Three betaine groups were fed AIN-93G diet supplemented with 1, 2, 4 g betaine/100 g diet, respectively.

The study found:

- The percentage of aorta sinus plaque to lumen area of 1% and 2% betaine groups were 41% and 33% smaller than that of the model group.

- Serum TNF-alpha level of three betaine groups were lower than that of the model group, but there was no significant difference in the methylation status of TNF-alpha promotor among all five groups.

They concluded that betaine could inhibit the development of atherosclerosis via anti-inflammation.

Fan et al (2008). "Anti-atherosclerotic effect of betaine in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice." Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi 42(10): 742-7.