Because most of the cardiac risk remains despite successful statin therapy there has been renewed interest in fibrate therapy for persisting hyperlipidaemia. Fibrate therapy lowers triglycerides but causes the urinary loss of betaine, which is an essential metabolite that is involved in osmoregulation, in methyl group metabolism, and which also affects lipid partitioning in the body. Loss of betaine is associated with an elevation of homocysteine and may compromise the potential benefits of fibrate therapy. However, betaine deficiency could be easily and inexpensively corrected by concurrent betaine supplementation. Clinical trials of combinations of betaine and fibrate, to complement statin therapy, are needed to determine the value of these agents in reducing the residual cardiovascular disease risk
Lever et al (2010). "Fibrates plus betaine: a winning combination?" N Z Med J 123(1324): 74-8.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Betaine protects the brain against alcohol and aspirin
Physicians recommend aspirin for prevention of heart attacks and stroke in people above the age of 40 years. In some cases, alcohol consumption accompanies aspirin intake. In this study, the in vitro effects of different doses of ethanol (50, 100, and 200 mM) and 100 μg/mL of aspirin and the possible protective role of betaine (0.5 and 1 mM) were investigated on rat cerebral synaptosomes.
Synaptosomally enriched fractions, derived from Sprague Dawley rat brains, were incubated with ethanol and aspirin so as to measure sialic acid (SA), nitric oxide levels, and adenosine deaminase (ADA) activities, which are known to be the markers of alcohol damage. When combined with aspirin, ethanol increased SA levels compared with the control group at all doses, resulting in loss of SA residue from synaptosomal membrane. Betaine (0.5 mM) decreased SA levels with respect to the ethanol (200 mM) plus aspirin group (p < .05), thereby preventing SA loss. Moreover, betaine reversed the destructive effects of ethanol by elevating reduced nitric oxide levels. Aspirin, when combined with all doses of ethanol, increased ADA activity, which is crucial for purine metabolism. ADA activities were also elevated in betaine-administered groups.
We propose that betaine is an effective compound in protecting the rat brain synaptosomes against ethanol and aspirin together.
Sogut and Kanbak (2010). "In vitro effects of ethanol with aspirin on rat brain synaptosomes: the potential protective role of betaine." Int J Neurosci 120(12): 774-83.
Synaptosomally enriched fractions, derived from Sprague Dawley rat brains, were incubated with ethanol and aspirin so as to measure sialic acid (SA), nitric oxide levels, and adenosine deaminase (ADA) activities, which are known to be the markers of alcohol damage. When combined with aspirin, ethanol increased SA levels compared with the control group at all doses, resulting in loss of SA residue from synaptosomal membrane. Betaine (0.5 mM) decreased SA levels with respect to the ethanol (200 mM) plus aspirin group (p < .05), thereby preventing SA loss. Moreover, betaine reversed the destructive effects of ethanol by elevating reduced nitric oxide levels. Aspirin, when combined with all doses of ethanol, increased ADA activity, which is crucial for purine metabolism. ADA activities were also elevated in betaine-administered groups.
We propose that betaine is an effective compound in protecting the rat brain synaptosomes against ethanol and aspirin together.
Sogut and Kanbak (2010). "In vitro effects of ethanol with aspirin on rat brain synaptosomes: the potential protective role of betaine." Int J Neurosci 120(12): 774-83.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Betaine is an important component of whole grain health benefits
Epidemiological studies have clearly shown that whole-grain cereals can protect against obesity, diabetes, CVD and cancers. The specific effects of food structure (increased satiety, reduced transit time and glycaemic response), fibre (improved faecal bulking and satiety, viscosity and SCFA production, and/or reduced glycaemic response) and Mg (better glycaemic homeostasis through increased insulin secretion), together with the antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic properties of numerous bioactive compounds, especially those in the bran and germ (minerals, trace elements, vitamins, carotenoids, polyphenols and alkylresorcinols), are today well-recognised mechanisms in this protection.
Recent findings, the exhaustive listing of bioactive compounds found in whole-grain wheat, their content in whole-grain, bran and germ fractions and their estimated bioavailability, have led to new hypotheses. The involvement of polyphenols in cell signalling and gene regulation, and of sulfur compounds, lignin and phytic acid should be considered in antioxidant protection. Whole-grain wheat is also a rich source of methyl donors and lipotropes (methionine, betaine, choline, inositol and folates) that may be involved in cardiovascular and/or hepatic protection, lipid metabolism and DNA methylation. Potential protective effects of bound phenolic acids within the colon, of the B-complex vitamins on the nervous system and mental health, of oligosaccharides as prebiotics, of compounds associated with skeleton health, and of other compounds such as α-linolenic acid, policosanol, melatonin, phytosterols and para-aminobenzoic acid also deserve to be studied in more depth. Finally, benefits of nutrigenomics to study complex physiological effects of the ‘whole-grain package’, and the most promising ways for improving the nutritional quality of cereal products are discussed.
Fardet A. New hypotheses for the health-protective mechanisms of whole-grain cereals: what is beyond fibre? Nutrition Research Reviews. 2010;23(01):65-134.
Recent findings, the exhaustive listing of bioactive compounds found in whole-grain wheat, their content in whole-grain, bran and germ fractions and their estimated bioavailability, have led to new hypotheses. The involvement of polyphenols in cell signalling and gene regulation, and of sulfur compounds, lignin and phytic acid should be considered in antioxidant protection. Whole-grain wheat is also a rich source of methyl donors and lipotropes (methionine, betaine, choline, inositol and folates) that may be involved in cardiovascular and/or hepatic protection, lipid metabolism and DNA methylation. Potential protective effects of bound phenolic acids within the colon, of the B-complex vitamins on the nervous system and mental health, of oligosaccharides as prebiotics, of compounds associated with skeleton health, and of other compounds such as α-linolenic acid, policosanol, melatonin, phytosterols and para-aminobenzoic acid also deserve to be studied in more depth. Finally, benefits of nutrigenomics to study complex physiological effects of the ‘whole-grain package’, and the most promising ways for improving the nutritional quality of cereal products are discussed.
Fardet A. New hypotheses for the health-protective mechanisms of whole-grain cereals: what is beyond fibre? Nutrition Research Reviews. 2010;23(01):65-134.
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