Effects Of Betaine Supplementation Research Articles

Betaine Alter SCFA-Producing Bacteria Population in Laying Pullet Reared in Tropical Climate

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are crucial products of microbial fermentation in the gut, known to play a significant role in maintaining gastrointestinal health and the overall well-being of animals. Betaine, a naturally occurring compound found in various plant and animal sources, has been widely used as a feed additive in poultry production due to its potential benefits, including improved growth, osmoregulation, and liver function. This study examines the possible effects of betaine supplementation on SCFA-producing bacteria in laying pullets raised in tropical climates, mainly focusing on SCFA-producing Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species. In total, 96 laying hens strain Lohmann aged three weeks were assigned to two dietary treatments. Dietary treatments included a basal diet (control) and a basal diet supplemented with 1.2 g.kg-1 betaine. The next-generation sequencing method of the 16S rRNA gene region V3–V4 was applied to view the bacteria abundance. Betaine supplementation showed significantly higher population levels of Lactobacillus_agilis, Lactobacillus_aviarius, Lactobacillus_ingluviei, Lactobacillus_johnsonii, and Lactobacillus_saerimneri compared to the control group (P<0.05). In Bifidobacterium_pullorum bacteria, betaine administration shows insignificant results compared to control. In conclusion, betaine supplementation appears to have a positive impact on promoting the growth of certain beneficial Lactobacillus species in laying pullets reared in tropical climates.

33. Effects of betaine supplementation in summer lactation and weaning-to-remating interval on subsequent reproductive performance of sows

33. Effects of betaine supplementation in summer lactation and weaning-to-remating interval on subsequent reproductive performance of sows

Effects of betaine supplementation in plant‐protein‐based diets on growth performance, haemato‐immunological parameters, antioxidant status and digestive enzyme activities of juvenile Caspian trout ( Salmo trutta , Kessler, 1877)

A feeding trial was conducted to examine the effects of dietary supplementation of betaine on growth performance, haematological-biochemical parameters, antioxidant status and digestive enzyme activities of juvenile Caspian trout, Salmo trutta. A feeding trial was conducted to examine the effects of dietary betaine on growth performance, haematological–immunological parameters, antioxidant defence system and digestive enzyme activities of juvenile Caspian trout, Salmo trutta. For this purpose, 180 juveniles (9.7 ± 0.59 g—total length, 9.35 ± 0.48 cm) were fed four experimental diets as follows: plant-protein basal diet, the basal diets with 1.4 and 2.8% betaine supplementation or a fishmeal-based diet (control). Triplicate groups were considered for each treatment and feeding trial lasted for 77 days. The results revealed that weight gain (WG) ratio, specific growth rate (SGR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were significantly higher in fish fed the betaine-supplemented diet (1.4 & 2.8%) and control diet than in the group fed the basal one. Lysozyme activity and total serum immunoglobulin of those fish fed the basal diet with 2.8% betaine supplementation or the control diet were also found significantly higher than those in fish fed the basal diet. Moreover, significantly lower (p < .05) plasma total cholesterol, glucose, high-density aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities were observed in the basal diet, but those were improved as supplemented with 1.4 and 2.8% betaine. The study of antioxidant enzyme activities revealed a rising trend in superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and catalase (CAT) in 2.8% betaine induced by the plant-protein-based diet (p < .05). Furthermore, digestive enzyme activities including lipase and amylase had augmented in fish receiving betaine-supplemented diets. Results indicated that, in diets based on plant proteins that often have low palatability, 1.4% of betaine supplementation might improve feed acceptability, growth performance, humoral immune responses, antioxidant defence and digestive activity in Caspian trout.

Effects of Betaine Supplementation on Markers of Metabolic Flexibility, Body Composition, and Anaerobic Performance in Active College-Age Females

Betaine (BET) has shown to be effective in improving body composition and performance, although research in women is lacking. This study investigated the effects of BET supplementation on markers of metabolic flexibility, body composition, and anaerobic performance in college females. Twenty-three active subjects with 21.8 ± 3.0 years of age, 66.6 ± 8.8 kg body mass, 1.6 ± 0.1 m height, and 23.2 ± 5.3% body fat performed a graded exercise test on a cycle ergometer consisting of 4 incremental, 3 min stages for collection of fat and carbohydrate oxidation rates. Three 10 s sprint tests were then completed against a resistance of 7.5% of body mass, separated by 2.5 min of recovery. The study comprised 3 phases: (a) pre-supplementation, (b) randomization to supplement for 2-weeks with either 2.4 g/day BET or placebo (parallel design), and (c) post-supplementation. Repeated-measures analysis of variance were conducted to determine interactions or main effects. There were no group differences for substrate oxidation rates (p > 0.05). Although body composition improved pre-post for both groups (p < 0.05), only the BET group experienced a significant increase in fat free mass (p < 0.01; ∼3%). Further, only the BET group experienced improvements to performance such as a higher mean power output during the final sprint (p = 0.02; ∼3%) and a lower RPE during the final stage of the graded exercise test (p = 0.02). Results from this study suggest BET supplementation may improve body composition and some markers of performance during exercise in collegiate women.

Effects of Betaine Supplementation on Live Performance, Selected Blood Parameters, and Expression of Water Channel and Stress-Related mRNA Transcripts of Delayed Placement Broiler Chicks.

This study examined the effect of supplemental betaine on live performance, selected blood parameters, and gene expression of water channel proteins (Aquaporins, AQP) of broiler chicks delayed in placement for 48 h post-hatch. In total, 540 newly-hatched male broiler chicks were obtained from a local hatchery and were randomly allotted to one of five treatments with nine replicates per treatment (12 chicks per replicate). Chicks were either placed immediately, control; held for 48 h post-hatch with no access to feed or water, Holdnull; held for 48 h with free access to drinking water only, HoldW; held for 48 h with free access to drinking water supplemented with 1 ml per L of betaine solution (40% betaine), HoldB1; or held for 48 h with free access to drinking water supplemented with 2 ml per L of betaine solution (40% betaine), HoldB2 group. The results showed that post-hatch holding for 48 h depressed feed intake and body weight gain during the entire 15 d study period with no beneficial effect of supplemental betaine. Chicks in the HoldB2 group had elevated serum glucose, triglycerides, and aspartate aminotransferase 48 h post-hatch. Early water deprivation directly affected the brain proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and hepatic glucocorticoid receptors (GR) expression and induced significant changes in various aquaporins (AQP1, AQP2, AQP4, and AQP9). In conclusion, betaine supplementation to chicks held for 48 h post-hatch resulted in some changes in blood biochemical indices with no effects on performance during the first 15 days of life. The results suggest that betaine supplementation could ameliorate the stressful effects of water deprivation on POMC and GR expression and maintain cellular osmosis through interactions with variable aquaporins expression, particularly the AQP1 and AQP2. Further investigations are required to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the selective regulatory expression of different aquaporins in relation to betaine supplementation.

The effects of betaine supplementation in diets containing different levels of crude protein and methionine on the growth performance, blood components, total tract nutrient digestibility, excreta noxious gas emission, and meat quality of the broiler chickens

The effects of betaine supplementation on growth performance, blood components, nutrient digestibility, excreta noxious gas emission, and meat quality of broiler chickens were examined using different dietary crude protein (CP) and methionine (Met) levels. A total of 768 Ross 308 broiler chickens were allotted to four treatments, with 12 replications of each treatment conducted over 6 wk. Treatments were factorially designed, with 2 levels of CP [Starter: CP 21% (low Met) and 23% (high Met); Finisher: CP 18% (low Met) and 20% (high Met)] and 2 levels of betaine supplementation (0 and 0.12%). Body weight gain and feed conversion improved significantly as dietary levels of protein increased (P < 0.05), but the results for betaine supplementation differed. The concentrations of serum total protein, albumin, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were elevated by either the supplementary betaine or the CP (P < 0.05). In addition, serum albumin concentration significantly increased in groups fed low CP amounts and betaine 0.12% compared with groups fed low CP only (P < 0.05). Total tract digestibility of nitrogen in broilers fed high CP amounts or 0.12% betaine, was observed to be greater than that in groups fed low CP amounts or no betaine treatment (P < 0.05). Supplemental betaine affected excreta ammonia gas emission, and hydrogen sulfide concentrations decreased significantly in low CP-fed groups (P < 0.05). Breast meat quality and relative organ weights were not influenced by CP levels or dietary betaine supplementation. These results suggest that betaine does not increase productivity, but may affect serum total protein, albumin, GPx, excreta ammonia emission, and nitrogen digestibility in broiler chickens. In addition, betaine supplementation is more effective in increasing serum albumin concentration when it was added in low CP (low Met) diets.

Effects of betaine supplementation on L-threonine fed-batch fermentation by Escherichia coli.

Betaine can act as a stress protectant, methyl donor, or enzyme stabilizer in vitro for the biosynthesis of structurally complex compounds. The performances of betaine type and concentration on the metabolic processes of Escherichia coli JLTHR in a 5-L fermentor were investigated. The results showed that the maximum L-threonine production of 127.3g/L and glucose conversion percentage of 58.12% was obtained fed with the glucose solution containing 2g/L betaine hydrochloride, which increased by 14.5 and 6.87% more compared to that of the control, respectively. This study presents an analysis of the metabolic fluxes of E. coli JLTHR for the production of L-threonine with betaine supplementation. When betaine was fed into the fermentation culture medium, the metabolic flux entering into the pentose phosphate pathway (HMP) and biosynthesis route of L-threonine increased by 57.3 and 10.1%, respectively. In conclusion, exogenous addition of betaine was validated to be a feasible and efficacious approach to improve L-threonine production.

Effects of betaine supplementation on productive performance, blood parameters and carcass characteristics of broiler

One hundred Cobb 500™ broiler chicks were used in a 28-day trial to study the effects of betaine supplementaton on performance parameters, carcass characteristics and blood parameters in commercial broiler. Birds were randomly distributed into five dietary treatment groups designated as T0, T1, T2, T3 and T4 and betaine was supplemented at 0%, 0.25%, 0.35%, 0.45% and 0.60% for T0, T1, T2, T3 and T4 treatment groups respectively. All birds had free access to ad-libitum feeding. Results indicated that, feed intake increased (P 0.05). Heterophil, Basophil, Serum albumin and Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase decreased (P<0.05) at 4th week. Maximum net profit per broiler (Tk. 18.4) was obtained from birds fed diet supplemented with 0.45% betaine. It was concluded that, increasing levels of supplemental betaine substantially improved performance parameter, carcass characteristics and net profit without interfering blood and serum parameters in commercial broiler.

Effects of Betaine Supplementation on Muscle Strength and Power: A Systematic Review

Ismaeel, A. Effects of betaine supplementation on muscle strength and power: a systematic review. J Strength Cond Res 31(8): 2338-2346, 2017-Betaine (BET) has recently gotten much attention for its potential role as an ergogenic aid and has become a common ingredient in peri-workout dietary supplements. The purpose of this systematic review of the literature was to investigate the effects of BET supplementation on muscular strength and power. A computerized literature search of 3 databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, and Scopus) was performed. Included in the review were randomized controlled trials that measured muscle strength, power, or both measures in healthy participants. Quality was assessed using the PEDro scale. Seven trials were identified, and quality assessment showed that all were of "excellent quality." Only 2 of the studies reported increases in strength or power after supplementation with BET. The remaining 5 studies showed no change in any strength or power outcome measures with BET supplementation. This review highlights the lack of evidence for a clear ergogenic effect of BET supplementation on strength and power performance. However, because 2 studies did identify increases of up to 24.61% on strength and power as a result of BET supplementation, additional studies are necessary to evaluate its effectiveness.

Effects of betaine supplementation on nitric oxide metabolism, atherosclerotic parameters, and fatty liver in guinea pigs fed a high cholesterol plus methionine diet.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of high cholesterol (CHOL) and CHOL+methionine (MET) diets on atherogenic and oxidative index parameters and on the factors that influence nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Also, attempts were made to determine whether dietary betaine (BET) resulted in any improvement in the changes that occurred after CHOL+MET administration. Guinea pigs were fed chow containing 1.5% CHOL with or without 2% MET for 10wk. A third group received the CHOL+MET+BET diet. Control groups were given standard chow or standard chow+BET. Arginine, NO, nitrotyrosine (NT), and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels; lipid profile; and dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH) activity were measured. The liver and aorta were subjected to histopathologic analysis. The CHOL+MET diet caused higher serum CHOL and homocysteine levels, but no further increases were seen in aortic CHOL and diene conjugate (DC) levels and histopathologic lesions as compared with the CHOL group. Hepatic lipids and DC levels were also higher, and histopathologic lesions were more severe. CHOL+MET feeding increased ADMA and NT levels as compared with those of the CHOL-fed group. When BET (1g/kg body weight/d) was added to the CHOL+MET diet, homocysteine and lipid levels decreased and histopathologic changes were reversed. BET diet decreased serum ADMA and hepatic and aortic DC levels and partly restored DDAH activity. BET supplementation may be effective in preventing hyperlipidemia, disturbed NO availability, oxidative stress, and the development of fatty liver and atherosclerotic lesions that might result from excess amounts of cholesterol and methionine in the diet.

Effect of betaine supplementation during summer on sow lactation and subsequent farrowing performance

ABSTRACT The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of betaine supplementation during lactation in hot summer months on piglet growth and sow subsequent reproductive performance. The betaine feeding portion of the experiment was conducted between December 2014 and March 2015 with subsequent litter data completed by July 2015 in Rancagua, Chile. Dietary treatments were allotted randomly to concurrent farrowing rooms of sows. Sows were fed diets supplemented with either 0% (n = 193) or 0.3% (n = 175 sows) of betaine-HCl (70.7% betaine) from 2 d before their farrowing due date until weaning (average lactation length = 21.0 d). Betaine supplemented sows had 3.90% greater ADFI during lactation than control sows (P = 0.005). Treatments by parity interactions were significant for ADFI and sow BW loss (P = 0.008 and P = 0.005, respectively). Parity 2 sows that received betaine supplementation had greater ADFI (6.89 versus 6.17 kg/d) and 6.70 kg less BW loss than parity 2 control sows (P

The effects of betaine supplementation on Pcyt2 +/− (ETKO) mice

The effect of choline metabolite betaine on alleviation of metabolic syndrome phenotype was investigated in CTP: phosphoethanolamine cytidylyltransferase knockout mice (ETKO). Adult ETKO gradually develop liver steatosis, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and insulin resistance even on a chow diet. Obese ETKO and lean 34‐week old wild‐type littermates (WT) were subjected to normal chow diet and supplemented with or without 1% betaine in drinking water for 8 weeks. The food and water intake along with total body weight were continuously monitored and the plasma and tissues lipid content, adipocyte size and liver steatosis were investigated at the end of the treatment. In 8 weeks, untreated ETKO and WT similarly gained 9.7%–10.4% of their initial body weight. Betaine treated ETKO however lost 4.2% of total body weight and there was no betaine effect on WT littermate weight. Treated ETKO plasma triglycerides (TAG) were reduced 40.9% and liver diacylglycerol (DAG) and TAG were reduced by 50% and 37.4% respectively. Significant reductions in adipocyte size and lipid droplet content in treated ETKO livers were histologically observed. The ETKO genes involved in liver lipogenesis including sterol regulatory element binding protein‐1 (SREBP‐1c), fatty acid synthase (FAS), stearoyl‐CoA desaturase (SCD‐1), diglyceride acyltransferase‐1 (DGAT‐1) and diglyceride acyltransferase‐2 (DGAT‐2), had significantly reduced levels of expression after betaine treatments. Mitochondrial genes for fatty acid oxidation such as peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor alpha (PPARα) and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma coactivator 1‐alpha (PGC‐1α), were on the other hand up‐regulated in comparison to betaine untreated ETKO. The data demonstrates a positive effect of betaine in improving negative effects of obesity and on overall lipid metabolism and mitochondrial function.Grant Funding Source : Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural affairs

Effects of Betaine Supplementation and Choline Deficiency on Folate Deficiency-Induced Hyperhomocysteinemia in Rats

The effect of betaine status on folate deficiency-induced hyperhomocysteinemia was investigated to determine whether folate deficiency impairs homocysteine removal not only by the methionine synthase (MS) pathway but also by the betaine-homocysteine S-methyltransferase (BHMT) pathway. For this purpose, we investigated the effect of dietary supplementation with betaine at a high level (1%) in rats fed a folate-deprived 10% casein diet (10C) and 20% casein diet (20C). We also investigated the effect of choline deprivation on folate deficiency-induced hyperhomocysteinemia in rats fed 20C. Supplementation of folate-deprived 10C and 20C with 1% betaine significantly suppressed folate deprivation-induced hyperhomocysteinemia, but the extent of suppression was partial or limited, especially in rats fed 10C, the suppression of plasma homocysteine increment being 48.5% in rats fed 10C and 69.7% in rats fed 20C. Although betaine supplementation greatly increased hepatic betaine concentration and BHMT activity, these increases did not fully explain why the effect of betaine supplementation was partial or limited. Folate deprivation markedly increased the hepatic concentration of N,N-dimethylglycine (DMG), a known inhibitor of BHMT, and there was a significant positive correlation between hepatic DMG concentration and plasma homocysteine concentration, suggesting that folate deficiency increases hepatic DMG concentration and thereby depresses BHMT reaction, leading to interference with the effect of betaine supplementation. Choline deprivation did not increase plasma homocysteine concentration in rats fed 20C, but it markedly enhanced plasma homocysteine concentration when rats were fed folate-deprived 20C. This indicates that choline deprivation reinforced folate deprivation-induced hyperhomocysteinemia. Increased hepatic DMG concentration was also associated with such an effect. These results support the concept that folate deficiency impairs homocysteine metabolism not only by the MS pathway but also by the BHMT pathway.

Effects of Dietary Supplementation with Betaine on a Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) Mouse Model

The effects of betaine supplementation on non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) model mice were examined by measuring the accumulation of fat in the livers of NASH model mice compared to a control. Betaine from sugar beets was provided to the model mice as a dietary supplement. After 3 wk of dietary supplementation, there were no significant differences in body weight or liver weight between the groups. However, the liver to body weight ratio in the high-fat diet with betaine (HFB) group was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that in the high-fat diet (HF) group. There were no differences in serum triglyceride (TG) concentrations, AST and ALT activities, or hepatic glutathione concentrations between the groups. Hepatic TG level in the HFB group was significantly (p<0.05) lower than that in the HF group. Hepatic cells obtained from the HF group showed increased occurrence of explosive puff and necrosis as compared with those in the HFB group. Betaine supplementation had an inhibitory effect on fat accumulation in the liver: the Oil red-positive area in the HFB group (0.82 ± 0.85%) was significantly (p<0.001) smaller than that in the HF group (9.06 ± 2.24%). These results indicate the potential of betaine to serve as an agent for amelioration of hepatic steatosis in NASH model mice.

Amelioration ofD-Galactosamine-Induced Acute Liver Injury in Rats by Dietary Supplementation with Betaine Derived from Sugar Beet Molasses

The effects of betaine supplementation on D-galactosamine-induced liver injury were examined in terms of hepatic and serum enzyme activities and of the levels of glutathione and betaine-derived intermediates. The rats induced with liver injury showed marked increases in serum enzyme activity, but those receiving dietary supplementation of 1% betaine showed enzyme activity levels similar to a control group without liver injury. Administration of betaine also increased both hepatic and serum glutathione levels, even following D-galactosamine injection. The activity of glutathione-related enzymes was markedly decreased following injection of D-galactosamine, but remained comparable to that of the control group in rats receiving 1% betaine. The concentrations of hepatic S-adenosyl methionine and cysteine showed similar trends to that observed for hepatic glutathione levels. These results indicate that 1% betaine has a hepatoprotective effect by increasing hepatic and serum glutathione levels along with glutathione-related enzyme activities in rats.

Relationship between Dietary Protein Levels and Betaine Supplementation in Laying Hens

The effects of betaine supplementation on productivity, egg quality, blood components, and liver amino acid concentration were examined in laying hens using a diet with differing levels of CP. A total of 540 Hy-Line Brown laying hens were allotted to 6 treatments with 5 replications for 24 weeks. Treatments were designed with 3 levels of CP (14, 16 and 18%) and 2 levels of betaine supplementation (0 and 600 ppm) in the diet. Egg production, egg mass, and feed conversion were found to be improved significantly as dietary levels of protein increased (P<0.05), but the results for betaine supplementation were different. Eggshell breaking strength, eggshell thickness and Haugh units were not influenced by the supplementary betaine or the level of CP. Serum albumin concentration was significantly elevated in the group fed with 18% CP compared to those in groups fed with other amounts of CP (P<0.05). Supplemental betaine did not affect serum total protein, albumin, or BUN concentration, whereas the uric acid concentration was significantly increased in the betaine-fed groups (P<0.05). Concentrations of liver amino acids were influenced by CP levels and dietary betaine supplementation (P<0.05). In addition, betaine supplementation increased the methionine, aspartate, cystine, glutamate, glycine, proline and tyrosine levels in the livers of birds fed on the 14% CP diet (P<0.05). These results suggest that betaine does not increase productivity, but may affect serum uric acid and liver amino acids in laying hens. Betaine also increased liver amino acid levels in the lower CP groups.

Effects of Betaine Supplementation in Plant Protein Based Diets on Feed Intake and Growth Performance in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

The effects of betaine supplementation on feed intake and growth performance in rainbow trout fed a plant-protein based diet were evaluated. Triplicate groups of rainbow trout (130 g) were fed the plant-protein basal diet, the basal diet with 1.5% betaine supplementation, or a fishmeal-based diet (control) for 80 days. Feed intake was significantly better (p&lt;0.05) in fish fed the betaine-sup- plemented diet (161.2 g/fish) than in fish fed the basal diet (131.6 g/fish) and not significantly dif- ferent from fish fed the control (152.8 g/fish). Weight gain was significantly higher (p&lt;0.05) in fish fed the betaine-supplemented diet (117.0%) than in fish fed the basal diet (95.9%). Results indi- cate that, in diets based on plant proteins that often have low palatability, betaine supplementation may improve feed acceptability and growth performance in rainbow trout.

The Effects of Betaine Supplementation on Strength and Power Performance

Betaine (B) is an organic osmolyte and methyl donor. Organic osmolytes are important for fluid balance during osmotic stress and metabolic methylation reactions. Both are important during resistance exercise given the flux of substrates through metabolic pathways and may benefit strength and power performance. PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of B supplementation in improving strength and power performance. METHODS: Twelve men (mean ± SD age, 21 ± 3 yr; mass, 79.1 ± 10.7 kg) with a minimum of 3 months resistance training, including the squat exercise, completed two 14-day trials in a balanced, randomized, double-blind, repeated measures, crossover design. Prior to and following 14 days of B supplementation (1.25 g mixed in 240 ml Gatorade®) or placebo (P), consumed twice per day, subjects completed two consecutive days (D1 and D2) of a standardized high intensity/power resistance exercise challenge (REC). A 14-day washout period separated the 14-day B and P trials. Two standardized resistance training workouts were completed during B and P trials, and during the washout period, to maintain the subject's training status. Total body water was measured via multi-frequency bio-electrical impedance spectroscopy. ANOVA were conducted with alpha set at 0.05. RESULTS: Body mass and total body water values did not change over the course of the study. Following 14-days of B supplementation, bench throw power (1779 ± 90 W) and isometric bench press force (2922 ± 297 N) increased (p<0.05) during REC compared to pre-supplementation values and corresponding P values (1535 ± 81 W, 2345 ± 146 N, respectively). Compared to pre-supplementation, vertical jump power and isometric squat force increased (p<0.05) on both D1 and D2. There were no differences in bench press repetitions, number of squat repetitions, and jump squat power between D1 and D2, or between B and P values. CONCLUSION: B supplementation increased power, force and maintenance, particularly in the smaller upper-body muscle groups compared to larger lower-body muscle groups. Funded by Danisco USA Incorporated, Ardsley, NY.

Effects of betaine supplementation on hepatic metabolism of sulfur-containing amino acids in mice

We previously reported that acute betaine treatment induced significant changes in the hepatic glutathione and cysteine levels in mice and rats. The present study was aimed to determine the effects of dietary betaine on the metabolism of sulfur-containing amino acids. Male mice were supplemented with betaine (1%) in drinking water for up to 3 weeks. Changes in hepatic levels of major sulfur amino acid metabolites and products were stabilized after 2 weeks of betaine supplementation. Betaine intake increased methionine, S-adenosylmethionine, and S-adenosylhomocysteine levels significantly, but homocysteine and cystathionine were reduced. Methionine adenosyltransferase activity was elevated to three-fold of control. Cysteine catabolism to taurine was inhibited as evidenced by a decrease in cysteine dioxygenase activity and taurine levels in liver and plasma. Despite the significant changes in the transsulfuration reactions, neither hepatic cysteine nor glutathione was altered. Betaine supplementation decreased the hepatotoxicity induced by chloroform (0.5 ml/kg, ip) significantly. Betaine supplementation enhances recycling of homocysteine for the generation of methionine and S-adenosylmethionine while reducing its utilization for the synthesis of cystathionine and cysteine. However, the hepatic levels of cysteine or glutathione are not affected, most probably due to the depression of taurine generation from cysteine.

Cystathionine β-synthase deficiency: Effects of betaine supplementation after methionine restriction in B6-nonresponsive homocystinuria

Purpose: For treatment of cystathionine β-synthase (CβS) deficiency, we determined the effect of betaine (N, N, N-trimethylglycine) therapy and examined the genotype-phenotype relationships to betaine.Methods: In five patients with B6-nonresponsive homocystinuria, we defined the CβS genotypes and determined metabolic responses to betaine as an additive to traditional dietary methionine restriction.Results: After betaine therapy, tHcy declined (mean 47.4 μmol/L; range: −21.2 to −104.0 μmol/L; P = 0.02), whereas total plasma cysteine and methionine did not change. Plasma methionine/tHcy ratios increased by 5.45 (range: +1.5 to 15.3; P = 0.05) inpatients with B6-nonresponsive alleles.Conclusion: Betaine improves metabolic control in B6-nonresponsive patients with homocystinuria after optimum dietary control.