Betaine has been shown to help lower homocysteine levels in the blood, a potential risk factor for heart disease. It can also promote phosphatidylcholine production and reduce very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) formation.
Anyone looking for a pure betaine anhydrous supplement will appreciate this simple powder, made in a facility free from major allergens and lab tested for purity. It also has a low price point and a large number of servings per bottle.
Trimethylglycine
Compound Betaine that has been shown to have potential benefits for fighting heart disease, improving body composition and helping promote muscle gain and fat loss. Also known as trimethylglycine, it is a naturally occurring nutrient found in foods such as wheat, spinach and sugar beets. It is a type of choline that works closely with the other B vitamins, folic acid and vitamin B12 to help form S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe), an amino acid that helps reduce homocysteine levels.
Betaine has also been used in surfactant products to stabilize foam and is a critical osmoprotectant, able to bind water inside cells without disrupting enzyme function or protein structure. It is also an important methyl donor, functioning in a process called transmethylation, which turns homocysteine into methionine and is required for DNA synthesis.
Betaine anhydrous is an ingredient commonly found in supplements aimed at improving workout performance. It may lower homocysteine levels and improve protein synthesis. In one double-blind study, three and six grams of betaine per day were associated with reduced plasma homocysteine levels.
Cysteine
Betaine is a zwitterionic quaternary ammonium compound found in many plants, microorganisms and animals. It also occurs in foods such as wheat, rye, shellfish and spinach. It can be used as an osmoprotectant and can help protect cells, proteins and enzymes from oxidative stress. The intracellular accumulation of betaines permits water retention without disrupting cell function or protein structure. It can also improve the amplification of DNA during polymerase chain reactions.
Another use of betaine is as a methyl group donor in transmethylation reactions. These reactions are catalyzed by betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT) and convert homocysteine to methionine. This methionine is converted to S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), which has two available methyl groups and can be used as a methyl donor for other methylation reactions.
N-acetyl cysteine, a form of betaine, has been shown to promote estrogen balance in women and reduce oxidative stress in the liver. This may be due to the ability of N-acetyl cysteine to inhibit aromatase activity and the subsequent biotransformation of circulating estrogens.
Methionine
Methionine is used to produce creatine, a molecule essential for cellular energy. It is also involved in many other chemical reactions, including DNA methylation. In fact, it can be converted to S-adenosylmethionine or “SAM” (x), a crucial methyl group donor. SAM is involved in a variety of functions that include protein production, gene regulation and fatty acid synthesis. Methionine is found in animal proteins and some vegetable proteins.
Studies have linked high levels of methionine to the development of some diseases, such as obesity, diabetes and certain cancers. It has also been linked to hepatotoxicity and cognitive dysfunctions. However, these findings need to be replicated in human studies to confirm these results. Additionally, it is important to consider potential interactions between betaine supplements and other medications.
Sulfur
Sulfur is an element, and it’s easy to find in rocks and minerals and also in our bodies. It has a yellowish color, and it’s often used in skin-care products to unclog pores. It’s a component in the essential amino acid methionine and in vitamin B-1 (thiamin). Whole grains are rich sources of sulfur. Leafy greens also contain it.
Sulfates are used in bleaching paper, and sulfites (sometimes called “nitrates”) are added to wine and dried fruits to preserve them. It’s also found in fungicides, the vulcanization of rubber and in gunpowder and matches.
Betaine has been shown to help lower cholesterol in animal studies and improve nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in humans. It also reduces oxidative stress and inflammation in the liver.
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