X-Message-Number: 31794
Date: Sat, 4 Jul 2009 22:27:52 -0700 (PDT)
From:
Subject: betaine is a probable lifespan extender in humans
[Mortality in aged humans is associated with reduced muscle strength, and
increased nfkappab expression. Betaine has been proven to increase muscle
endurance in young humans, and to decrease nfkappab in aged rats. It would be
interesting to see the results of an intervention study of these parameters in
aged humans. It has also been proposed that the relative longevity of bats is
due to their proteins being less vulnerable to urea induced denaturation than
those of mice. Betaine just happens to directly inhibit urea induced
denaturation.]
[Dosage of betaine used below was 2.5 gm/day.]
J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2009 Feb 27;6:7.
Effect of betaine supplementation on power performance and fatigue.
Hoffman JR, Ratamess NA, Kang J, Rashti SL, Faigenbaum AD. Department of
Health and Exercise Science, The College of New Jersey, PO Box 7718, Ewing,
New Jersey 08628, USA.
ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy
of 15 days of betaine supplementation on muscle endurance, power performance
and rate of fatigue in active college-aged men. METHODS: Twenty-four male
subjects were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The first group (BET;
20.4 +/- 1.3 years; height: 176.8 +/- 6.6 cm; body mass: 77.8 +/- 13.4 kg)
consumed the supplement daily, and the second group (PL; 21.4 +/- 4.7 years;
height: 181.3 +/- 5.9 cm; body mass: 83.3 +/- 5.2 kg) consumed a placebo.
Subjects were tested prior to the onset of supplementation (T1) and 7 (T2)
and 14 days (T3) following supplementation. Each testing period occurred
over a 2-day period. During day one of testing subjects performed a vertical
jump power (VJP) and a bench press throw (BPT) power test. In addition,
subjects were required to perform as many repetitions as possible with 75%
of their 1-RM in both the squat and bench press exercises. Both peak and
mean power was assessed on each repetition. On day two of testing subjects
performed two 30-sec Wingate anaerobic power tests (WAnT), each test
separated by a 5-min active rest. RESULTS: No differences were seen at T2 or
T3 in the repetitions performed to exhaustion or in the number of
repetitions performed at 90% of both peak and mean power between the groups
in the bench press exercise. The number of repetitions performed in the
squat exercise for BET was significantly greater (p < 0.05) than that seen
for PL at T2. The number of repetitions performed at 90% or greater of peak
power in the squat exercise was significantly greater for BET at both T2 and
T3 than PL. No differences in any power assessment (VJP, BPT, WAnT) was
seen between the groups CONCLUSION: Two-weeks of betaine supplementation in
active, college males appeared to improve muscle endurance of the squat
exercise, and increase the quality of repetitions performed.
PMID: 19250531
Free text:
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pubmed&pubmedid=19250531
[High doses of betaine returned nfkappab to youthful levels.]
Biol Pharm Bull. 2007 Dec;30(12):2244-9.
Betaine modulates age-related NF-kappaB by thiol-enhancing action.
Go EK, Jung KJ, Kim JM, Lim H, Lim HK, Yu BP, Chung HY. Department of
Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Pusan National University, Gumjung-ku, Busan
609-735, Korea.
Depletion of glutathione levels and perturbations in redox status are
considered to play a crucial role in aging and chronic inflammatory
processes through the activation of redox sensitive transcription factors,
including nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB). In the current study, we
assessed the regulatory action of dietary betaine in the suppression of
NF-kappaB by comparing kidney tissue from old, betaine-supplemented rats or
non-betaine-supplemented rats (age 21 months) and 7 month-old rats. In
addition, cultured HEK 293T cells were utilized for the molecular assessment
of betaine's restorative ability of redox status when treating cells with
potent glutathione (GSH)-depleting agents. Results showed that in old rats a
short-term feeding (10 d) with betaine attenuated the age-related decrease
in thiol levels, increase in reactive species and TNFalpha expression via
NF-kappaB activation, compared to the young controls. These findings were
verified in the cell-cultured system. Further investigations found that
redox imbalance due to thiol depletion caused increased NF-kappaB
activation, and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and TNFalpha levels, both of which
were suppressed by betaine treatment. Based on both in vivo and in vitro
data, we concluded that betaine exerts its efficacy by maintaining thiol
status in the regulation of COX-2 and TNFalpha via NF-kappaB activation
during aging.
PMID: 18057706
Free text:
http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/bpb/30/12/30_2244/_article
[If protein denaturation is a major driving force behind aging, then betaine
could be expected to slow this process.]
[Also note: If denaturation accounts for much of the toxicity of vitrificaion
solutions, then betaine could be expected to reduce solution toxicity.]
J Phys Chem B. 2009 Apr 16;113(15):5327-38.
Osmolyte counteracts urea-induced denaturation of alpha-chymotrypsin.
Venkatesu P, Lee MJ, Lin HM. Department of Chemical Engineering, National
Taiwan University of Science and Technology, 43 Keelung Road, Section 4,
Taipei 106-07, Taiwan.
The stability of proteins is reduced by urea, which is methylamine and
nonprotecting osmolyte; eventually urea destabilizes the activity and
function and alters the structure of proteins, whereas the stability of
proteins is raised by the osmolytes, which are not interfering with the
functional activity of proteins. The deleterious effect of urea on proteins
has been counteracted by methylamines (osmolytes), such as trimethylamine
N-oxide (TMAO), betaine, and sarcosine. To distinctly enunciate the
comparison of the counteracting effects between these methylamines on
urea-induced denaturation of alpha-chymotrypsin (CT), we measured the
hydrodynamic diameter (d(H)) and the thermodynamic properties (T(m), DeltaH,
DeltaG(U), and DeltaC(p)) with dynamic light scattering (DLS) and
differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), respectively. The present
investigation compares the compatibility and counteracting hypothesis by
determining the effects of methylamines and urea, as individual components
and in combination at a concentration ratio of 1:2 (methylamine:urea) as
well as various urea concentrations (0.5-5 M) in the presence of 1 M
methylamine. The experimental results revealed that the naturally occurring
osmolytes TMAO, betaine, and sarcosine strongly counteracted the urea
actions on alpha-chymotrypsin. The results also indicated that TMAO
counteracting the urea effects on CT was much stronger than betaine or
sarcosine.
PMID: 19354310
Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Feb;87(2):424-30.
Comment in:
Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Feb;87(2):277-8.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Jul;88(1):247-8; author reply 248.
Dietary choline and betaine intakes in relation to concentrations of
inflammatory markers in healthy adults: the ATTICA study.
Detopoulou P, Panagiotakos DB, Antonopoulou S, Pitsavos C, Stefanadis C.
Department of Nutrition Science-Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens,
Greece.
BACKGROUND: Choline and betaine are found in a variety of plant and animal
foods and were recently shown to be associated with decreased homocysteine
concentrations. OBJECTIVE: The scope of this work was to investigate the
associations between dietary choline and betaine consumption and various
markers of low-grade systemic inflammation. DESIGN: Under the context of a
cross-sectional survey that enrolled 1514 men (18-87 y of age) and 1528
women (18-89 y of age) with no history of cardiovascular disease (the ATTICA
Study), fasting blood samples were collected and inflammatory markers were
measured. Dietary habits were evaluated with a validated food-frequency
questionnaire, and the intakes of choline and betaine were calculated from
food-composition tables. RESULTS: Compared with the lowest tertile of
choline intake (<250 mg/d), participants who consumed >310 mg/d had, on
average, 22% lower concentrations of C-reactive protein (P < 0.05), 26%
lower concentrations of interleukin-6 (P < 0.05), and 6% lower
concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (P < 0.01). Similarly,
participants who consumed >360 mg/d of betaine had, on average, 10% lower
concentrations of homocysteine (P < 0.01), 19% lower concentrations of
C-reactive protein (P < 0.1), and 12% lower concentrations of tumor necrosis
factor-alpha (P < 0.05) than did those who consumed <260 mg/d. These
findings were independent of various sociodemographic, lifestyle, and
clinical characteristics of the participants. CONCLUSIONS: Our results
support an association between choline and betaine intakes and the
inflammation process in free-eating and apparently healthy adults. However,
further studies are needed to confirm or refute our findings.
PMID: 18258634 [PubMed
Free text:
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/87/2/424
Br J Nutr. 2007 Nov;98(5):960-8. Epub 2007 May 31.
The association of betaine, homocysteine and related metabolites with cognitive
function in Dutch elderly people.
Eussen SJ, Ueland PM, Clarke R, Blom HJ, Hoefnagels WH, van Staveren WA, de
Groot LC. Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 8129
6700 EV Wageningen, The Netherlands.
The importance of the one-carbon metabolites, choline and homocysteine, to
brain function is well known. However, the associations between the
one-carbon metabolites choline, betaine, methionine and dimethylglycine with
cognition in elderly are unclear. We therefore examined the associations of
these metabolites with cognition in a double-blind, placebo-controlled
trial. Individuals (n 195) were randomized to receive daily oral capsules
with either 1000 microg cobalamin (vitamin B12), or 1000 microg cobalamin
plus 400 microg folic acid, or placebo for 24 weeks. Concentrations of
homocysteine, methionine, choline, betaine and dimethylglycine were assessed
before and after 12 and 24 weeks of treatment. Cognitive function,
including domains of attention, construction, sensomotor speed, memory and
executive function, was assessed before and after 24 weeks of treatment. At
baseline, elevated plasma homocysteine was associated with lower performance
of attention, construction, sensomotor speed and executive function. In
addition, betaine was positively associated with better performance of
construction, sensomotor speed and executive function, whereas elevated
concentrations of methionine were positively associated with sensomotor
speed. Daily combined supplementation with cobalamin plus folic acid
decreased total homocysteine concentrations by 36%, and increased betaine
concentrations by 38%. Participants with the largest increases in betaine
concentrations showed a borderline significant (P = 0.07) higher memory
performance compared to those without it. Although this trial observed
associations of homocysteine and betaine with cognitive domains prior to
supplementation, decreased concentrations of homocysteine were not related
to improved cognitive performance. There was a tendency of participants with
the largest increases in betaine concentrations to show the greatest
improvement in memory function.
PMID: 17537289
Free text:
http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=1376800
J Radiat Res (Tokyo). 2005 Mar;46(1):117-21.
Glycine betaine, a beer component, protects radiation-induced injury.
Monobe M, Uzawa A, Hino M, Ando K, Kojima S. Department of Radiation
Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of
Science, Noda-shi, Chiba, Japan.
Human whole-blood was exposed to 137Cs gamma-rays or 50 keV/microm carbon
ions in the presence or absence of glycine betaine, a beer component in
vitro. The dicentrics of chromosome aberrations in human lymphocytes were
significantly (p < 0.05) reduced by glycine betaine after irradiation with 4
Gy of either gamma-rays or carbon ions. The maximum protection by glycine
betaine for gamma-rays or carbon ions was 37% and 20%, respectively. C3H/He
female mice, aged 14 weeks, received an i.p. injection of glycine betaine 15
min before whole-body irradiation with gamma-rays or 50 keV/microm carbon
ions. Glycine betaine significantly (p < 0.05) increased the percent
survival of irradiated mice with either gamma-rays or carbon ions. In
conclusion, glycine betaine is a potent protector against damages caused by
low- and high-LET radiation.
PMID: 15802867
Free text:
http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jrr/46/1/46_117/_article
Br J Nutr. 2004 Oct;92(4):665-9.
The effect of low doses of betaine on plasma homocysteine in healthy volunteers.
Alfthan G, Tapani K, Nissinen K, Saarela J, Aro A. Department of Health and
Functional Capacity, National Public Health Institute (KTL), Helsinki,
Finland.
Homocysteine is a risk factor for vascular diseases, and lowering of plasma
total homocysteine (tHcy) may be beneficial for health. Homocysteine can be
remethylated to methionine by betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase using
betaine (2(N,N,N-trimethyl)glycine) as methyl donor. A dose of 6 g betaine/d
has been used in the treatment of homocystinuria, but data on the
dose-response are scarce. Thirty-four healthy men and women were supplied
with doses of 1, 3 and 6 g betaine and then with 6 g betaine+1 mg folic acid
for four consecutive 1-week periods. The mean plasma tHcy concentration
decreased by 1.1 (NS), 10.0 and 14.0 % (P<0.001) after supplementation with
1, 3 and 6 g betaine respectively. A further decrease in plasma tHcy by 5 %
(P<0.01) was achieved by combining 1 mg folic acid with the 6 g betaine
dose. Plasma betaine increased from 31 (sd 13) to 255 (sd 136) mumol/l in a
dose-dependent manner (R(2) 0.97). We conclude that plasma tHcy is lowered
rapidly and significantly by 3 or 6 g betaine/d in healthy men and women.
PMID: 15522136
Free text:
http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=915632
Am J Gastroenterol. 2001 Sep;96(9):2711-7.
Comment in:
Am J Gastroenterol. 2001 Sep;96(9):2534-6.
Betaine, a promising new agent for patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis:
results of a pilot study.
Abdelmalek MF, Angulo P, Jorgensen RA, Sylvestre PB, Lindor KD. Divisions of
Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Surgical Pathology, Mayo Clinic and
Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
OBJECTIVES: No effective therapy currently exists for patients with
nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Betaine, a naturally occurring
metabolite of choline, has been shown to raise S-adenosylmethionine (SAM)
levels that may in turn play a role in decreasing hepatic steatosis. Our aim
was to determine the safety and effects of betaine on liver biochemistries
and histological markers of disease activity in patients with NASH. METHODS:
Ten adult patients with NASH were enrolled. Patients received betaine
anhydrous for oral solution (Cystadane) in two divided doses daily for 12
months. Seven out of 10 patients completed 1 yr of treatment with betaine.
RESULTS: A significant improvement in serum levels of aspartate
aminotransferase (p = 0.02) and ALAT (p = 0.007) occurred during treatment.
Aminotransferases normalized in three of seven patients, decreased by >50%
in three of seven patients, and remained unchanged in one patient when
compared to baseline values. A marked improvement in serum levels of
aminotransferases (ALT -39%; AST -38%) also occurred during treatment in
those patients who did not complete 1 yr of treatment. Similarly, a marked
improvement in the degree of steatosis, necroinflammatory grade, and stage
of fibrosis was noted at 1 yr of treatment with betaine. Transitory GI
adverse events that did not require any dose reduction or discontinuation of
betaine occurred in four patients. CONCLUSIONS: Betaine is a safe and well
tolerated drug that leads to a significant biochemical and histological
improvement in patients with NASH. This novel agent deserves further
evaluation in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
PMID: 11569700
Acta Odontol Scand. 1998 Apr;56(2):65-9.
Betaine-containing toothpaste relieves subjective symptoms of dry mouth.
Soderling E, Le Bell A, Kirstila V, Tenovuo J. Institute of Dentistry,
University of Turku, Finland.
Subjects with dry mouth often experience irritation of the oral mucosa when
using sodium lauryl sulfate containing products for oral hygiene. Betaine,
or trimethylglycine, reduces skin-irritating effects of ingredients of
cosmetics such as sodium lauryl sulfate. The aim of the present study was to
compare the effects of a betaine-containing toothpaste with a regular
toothpaste on the oral microbial flora, the condition of the oral mucosa,
and subjective symptoms of dry mouth in subjects with chronic dry mouth
symptoms. Thirteen subjects with chronic dry mouth symptoms and with a
paraffin-stimulated salivary flow rate < or = 1 mL/min participated in the
double-blind crossover study. Ten subjects had a very low salivary flow rate
(< or = 0.6 mL/min). The subjects used both experimental toothpastes (with
or without 4% betaine) twice a day for 2 weeks. Oral examinations and
microbiologic sample collections were made at the base lines preceding the
two experimental periods and at the end. Standardized questions on
subjective symptoms of dry mouth were used when the subjects were
interviewed at the end of the two experimental periods. No study-induced
significant changes were observed in the microbiologic variables (plaque
index, mutans streptococci, lactobacilli, Candida species) or in the
appearance of the oral mucosa. The use of the betaine-containing toothpaste
was, however, associated with a significant relief of several subjective
symptoms of dry mouth. Betaine appears thus to be a promising ingredient of
toothpastes in general and especially of toothpastes designed for patients
with dry mouth.
PMID: 9669455
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