Abstract
Betaine has been demonstrated to increase tolerance to hypertonic and thermal stressors. At the cellular level, intracellular betaine functions similar to molecular chaperones, thereby reducing the need for inducible heat shock protein expression. In addition to stabilizing protein conformations, betaine has been demonstrated to reduce oxidative damage. For the enterocyte, during periods of reduced perfusion as well as greater oxidative, thermal, and hypertonic stress (i.e., prolonged exercise in hot-humid conditions), betaine results in greater villi length and evidence for greater membrane integrity. Collectively, this reduces exercise-induced gut permeability, protecting against bacterial translocation and endotoxemia. At the systemic level, chronic betaine intake has been shown to reduce core temperature, all-cause mortality, markers of inflammation, and change blood chemistry in several animal models when exposed to heat stress. Despite convincing research in cell culture and animal models, only one published study exists exploring betaine’s thermoregulatory function in humans. If the same premise holds true for humans, chronic betaine consumption may increase heat tolerance and provide another avenue of supplementation for those who find that heat stress is a major factor in their work, or training for exercise and sport. Yet, this remains speculative until data demonstrate such effects in humans.
Highlights
Introduction and MethodologyIn today’s global society, the demand for humans to perform work in the heat is increasing [1,2].Whether affecting manual laborers, military personnel, or athletes, heat stress is responsible for approximately 620 deaths in the United States [3] and thousands globally [4,5,6] each year
It appears that osmolytes, such as betaine, are responsible for decreasing hypertonic stress in mammalian cells, which results in preserved functionality and increased survivability
Similar to the cell heat culture data, with betaine was effective in combating cellular heat stress as evidenced by a reduced need for heat shock proteins (HSPs)
Summary
In today’s global society, the demand for humans to perform work in the heat is increasing [1,2]. Strategies to manage heat stress and prolong exercise or activity in the heat have been explored extensively [7,8,9,10] These strategies can be categorized into physical and nutritional strategies. Physical strategies may include pre-cooling, cold water immersion, misting fans, and/or altering clothing [11]. Nutritional strategies, largely based upon defending plasma volume (i.e., consuming relatively large doses of electrolytes, carbohydrates, and cold fluids), play a role in managing heat stress. Among these nutritional strategies of heat stress management includes the consumption of betaine.
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