Betaine is a quaternary ammonium salt that is widely found in plants, animals and microorganisms. It is also a good food source as it is found in wheat, spinach, shellfish and sugar beets. Betaine is a methyl derivative of the amino acid glycine. It is known by different names such as trimethylglycine, glycine betaine, lysine and trimethylglycine acid.
Betaine has a very important role in human health. Betaine acts as an efficient methyl donor and participates directly in the methionine cycle; betaine also improves the activity of betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase, providing sufficient methyl groups to promote protein synthesis; also, betaine promotes lecithin synthesis, reduces the activity of lipogenic enzymes in the liver and promotes the synthesis of apolipoproteins in animals.
1. Cardiovascular Health
Elevated levels of homocysteine (Hcy) are an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. Studies have shown that consuming betaine rich foods at mealtime can reduce postprandial Hcy elevations, thereby stabilizing circulating Hcy levels throughout the day.
The lack of the essential nutrient choline and its betaine in the diet structure inhibits the methylation pathway of homocysteine and reduces the antioxidant effect of choline, thus increasing the risk of atherosclerosis. a study by Olthof et al. on healthy volunteers showed that the intake of betaine-rich foods (2 g/g) reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease by 5-10% compared to the intake of a low betaine diet (0.5 g/g). risk of cardiovascular disease. This suggests a possible association between the intake of betaine rich foods and cardiovascular disease.
2. Betaine and liver health
Betaine maintains the ratio of s-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to s-adenosylhomocysteine (SAM:SAH) and promotes the formation of lecithin from phosphatidylethanolamine through transmethylation, which increases the level of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), which transports lipids from the liver to tissues throughout the body, thereby reducing lipid accumulation in the liver and protecting liver function. Abdelmalek et al. randomized a controlled study of 55 patients with NAFLD, 34 patients had liver tissue biopsies after treatment and found an improvement in the degree of hepatic steatosis in patients in the oral betaine group (20 g/d) compared to the control group.
3. Betaine and maternal nutrition
The supply of maternal methyl groups is of great importance throughout the period from conception to fetal delivery. High levels of homocysteine may be associated with preeclampsia, fetal preterm birth, low birth weight, and fetal growth restriction, and maternal plasma betaine concentration is a predictor of homocysteine by 20 weeks. a controlled study by Shaw et al. found that maternal intake of foods rich in choline, betaine, and methionine reduced the risk of fetal neural tube abnormalities. Thus, betaine intake throughout pregnancy plays an important role in maternal and fetal health.
4. Anti-peptic ulcer and gastrointestinal dysfunction
It promotes cell regeneration and metabolism of body tissues, accelerates the healing of affected areas and prevents scar formation; has strong anti-infective and anti-viral effects, and has good pain relief and toning effects on gastroenteritis and abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Item | Limits of Test | Results |
Assay (HPLC) | ≥98% | 99.5% |
Appearance | White powder | Conforms |
Odor & Taste | Characteristic | Conforms |
Mesh size | 100% pass 80 mesh | Conforms |
Loss on drying | ≤5.0% | 3.12% |
Residue on Ignition | ≤5.0% | 3.05% |
Density | 0.5-0.6g/ml | 0.5g/ml |
Heavy Metal | ||
Total Heavy Metals | ≤10ppm | Conforms |
Pb | ≤2ppm | Conforms |
As | ≤2ppm | Conforms |
Hg | ≤1ppm | Conforms |
Microbiology | ||
Total Plate Count | <1000cfu/g | Conforms |
Yeast & Mold | <100cfu/g | Conforms |
E. Coli | Negative | Conforms |
Salmonella | Negative | Conforms |
Shelf life | 2 years when properly stored | |
Conclusion | Complies with the Enterprise Standards |