Betaine reduces athersclerosis and inflammatory response

This study investigated the effect of betaine supplementation on atherosclerotic lesion in apolipoprotein (apo) E-deficient mice. Four groups of these mice were fed AIN-93G diets supplemented with 0, 1, 2, or 4 g betaine/100 g diet (no, 1, 2, and 4% betaine, respectively). Wild-type C57BL/6 J mice were fed AIN-93G diet (wild-type). Mice were sacrificed after 0, 7, or 14 weeks of the experimental diets. Atherosclerotic lesion area in the aortic sinus, levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 in aorta and serum, serum lipids, and methylation status of TNF-α promoter in aorta were determined.

The results showed:

- compared with no-betaine mice after 14 weeks, mice receiving 1%, 2%, or 4% betaine had 10.8, 41, and 37% smaller lesion area, respectively.
- betaine supplementation reduced aortic expression of TNF-α in a dose-dependent way.
- betaine supplementation for 14 weeks led to higher concentrations of serum total cholesterol (P < 0.01), LDL cholesterol (P < 0.05), and lower body weight (P < 0.05).

The authors concluded that despite exacerbating hyperlipidemia in apoE-deficient mice, betaine may exert its anti-atherogenic effect by inhibiting aortic inflammatory response mediated by TNF-α.

Lv et al (2009). "Betaine supplementation attenuates atherosclerotic lesion in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice." Eur J Nutr 48(4): 205-12.