The effect of low doses of betaine on plasma homocysteine in healthy volunteers.

Abstract

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.

• Authors: Georg Alfthan, Kaisa Tapani, Katja Nissinen, Janna Saarela, Antti Aro
• Journal: The British journal of nutrition (Br J Nutr) Vol. 92 Issue 4 Pg. 665-9 (Oct 2004) ISSN: 0007-1145 [Print] England
• PMID: 15522136 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Drug Combinations
• Lipotropic Agents
• Homocysteine
• Betaine
• Folic Acid

Topics

• Adult
• Betaine (administration & dosage, blood, pharmacology)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Drug Combinations
• Female
• Folic Acid (pharmacology)
• Homocysteine (blood, drug effects)
• Humans
• Lipotropic Agents (pharmacology)
• Male
• Middle Aged