Health Benefits of Drinking Green Tea

Betaine

Betaine

Betaine, also known as Trimethylglycine (TMG) and is an organic compound with a structure similar to choline, and functions related to some other nutrients, such as folic acid, and vitamins B6 and B12, among others. All these compounds carry and donate methyl functional groups to facilitate chemical processes that are necessary for proper liver function, cellular replication, and detoxification reactions. When betaine, or any of the related nutrients recently named becomes low in the body, a naturally occurring amino acid called homocysteine may rise to toxic levels. As this toxicity can be harmful to blood vessels, it may lead to the development of heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. Its actions are also related to cells –included DNA-, proteins, and enzymes from environmental stress, such as low water, high salinity, or extreme temperature.

As an added benefit, betaine also is related to the manufacture of carnitine and helps protecting the kidneys from damage. When a deficiency of gastric acid secretion occurs, the likelihood and severity of certain bacterial and parasitic intestinal infections increase. On the contrary, a normal stomach’s level of gastric acid is sufficient to destroy bacteria. That is why betaine, on its acidic form (Betaine hydrochloride) is often recommended as a supplemental source of hydrochloric acid for people who have this kind of deficiency (hypochlorhydria).

In a diet…
Betaine may have lipotropic action, by promoting the oxidization of lipids, though some researches indicate the opposite. As it was explained, betaine can improve digestive efficiency, while it has shown to promote lean mass and reproductive abilities in animals, so far.
In addition, the following two-experiment trial, performed at Department of Animal Science, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, in USA tested betaine actions over protein in diets.

In Experiment 1, 32 gilts were fed one of two diets: 1) a corn-soybean meal basal (B) diet or 2) B + .125% betaine diet. In Experiment 2, 122 gilts were allotted to one of eight dietary treatments in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement with two levels of betaine (0 or .125%), crude protein (adequate [ACP] or inadequate [ICP]), and net energy (NE; 0 or 6% added fat).

The results varied depending on the category:

- Inadequate crude protein low-NE diets: Betaine increased ADG – increased fasting SUN (serum urea N) and albumin – increased serum total proteins.
- Adequate crude protein low NE-diets: Betaine increased ADG - decreased (P < .02) serum urea N (SUN) – decreased fasting SUN and albumin – increased serum total proteins.
- Inadequate crude protein high-NE: Betaine decreased ADG – increased fasting SUN and albumin – did not increase serum total proteins.
- Adequate crude protein high-NE: Betaine decreased ADG - decreased (P < .02) serum urea N (SUN) – decreased fasting SUN and albumin - did not increase serum total proteins.
In conclusion, these serum metabolite data suggest that betaine may affect protein status of pigs –and potentially, of humans- though these effects may depend on the crude protein and energy content of the diet.

Sources
Dietary sources of betaine include beets, broccoli, spinach, cereal grains and see food. Also many wines contain betaine -particularly the less expensive ones, which use beet sugar to increase the alcohol content-. In fact, some experts suggest that wine drinkers from France tend to have low rates of heart disease despite diets high in fat and cholesterol, a situation del called “French paradox”.
Forms and dosage
Betaine supplements are manufactured as a byproduct of sugar beet processing, available in powder, tablet, and capsule forms. Regarding the dosage, it varies depending on the health condition betaine is taken for (heart disease, homocystinuria, hypochlorhydria). In the case of taking it as a nutritional aide, the advice of a caregiver must be asked. Also because of the potential for side effects and interactions with medications, this procedure may be the wisest. In addition, it is usually recommended to take betaine in conjunction with folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 in order to enhance its actions.