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Betaine and homocysteine
Low dose betaine supplementation leads to immediate and long term lowering
of plasma homocysteine in healthy men and women.
Olthof MR. J Nutr. 2003
Dec;133(12):4135-8.
Wageningen Centre for Food Sciences and Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
High plasma homocysteine is a risk for cardiovascular disease and can be lowered
through supplementation with 6 g/d of betaine. However, dietary intake of
betaine is approximately 0.5-2 g/d. Therefore, we investigated whether betaine
supplementation in the range of dietary intake lowers plasma homocysteine
concentrations in healthy adults. Four groups of 19 healthy subjects ingested
three doses of betaine or placebo daily for 6 wk. A methionine loading test was
performed during run in, on d 1 of betaine supplementation, and after 2 and 6 wk
of betaine supplementation. Fasting plasma homocysteine after 6-wk daily intakes
of 1.5, 3 and 6 g of betaine was 12% less than in the placebo group, respectively. Furthermore, the increase
in plasma homocysteine after methionine loading on the 1st d of betaine
supplementation was 16% less
than in the placebo group, respectively, and after 6 wk of supplementation was
23% less, respectively. Thus,
doses of betaine in the range of dietary intake reduce fasting and
postmethionine loading plasma homocysteine concentrations. A betaine-rich diet
might therefore lower cardiovascular disease risk.
An open-label, 24-week pilot study of the methyl donor betaine in
Alzheimer disease patients.
Knopman D, Patterson M.
Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street NW, Rochester, MN
55905, USA.
Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 2001 Jul-Sep;15(3):162-5.
We investigated the safety and tolerability of betaine in patients with
Alzheimer disease (AD). Betaine is an alternative methyl donor, distinct
from the folate-and cobalamin-dependent conversion pathway between
homocysteine and methionine. Betaine has been used successfully to reduce
homocysteine levels in homocystinuria. The rationale for betaine in AD was
to decrease serum homocysteine levels and to increase brain methionone and
S-adenosylmethionine, both of which might delay disease progression.
Hyperhomocysteinemia is a possible risk factor for AD. Eight patients with
probable mild AD (7 men; mean age, 69.6 years; mean Mini-Mental State Exam
score, 23.7) received oral betaine (3 g twice daily) for 24 weeks. All
patients were on donepezil 10 mg/day for at least 3 months before entry
and throughout the study. One patient suffered a myocardial infarction and
withdrew after 6 weeks. Another patient, who completed the trial,
experienced diarrhea and prostatitis. Four of the 7 patients who completed
the trial were rated on the Clinician's Global Impression of Change as
worse after 24 weeks. On the cognitive portion of the AD Assessment Scale,
2 patients worsened by at least five points over 24 weeks, whereas the
others had changes in scores of no more than two points either way. Six of
8 patients tolerated betaine for 24 weeks without difficulty. Several
patients worsened over 24 weeks, but as a pilot study without a control
group, efficacy measurements cannot be interpreted. The current study
provides a basis for pursuing larger controlled trials with betaine in AD.
The homocysteine to S-adenosylmethionine pathway is of interest in AD
therapeutics.
Comments: Here's an example of lack of understanding
of proper nutrient dosage by researchers. They used 6 grams of betaine a
day which can make any condition ,or anyone who is healthy, worse off due
to overstimulation. Researchers should first take supplements themselves
at different dosages before doing a study and wasting everyone's time,
money, and coming up with unhelpful data.
Betaine research questions
Would you happen to know if a betaine glucuronate supplement is sold in
the United States? I've only been able to locate betaine hydrochloride
which, unfortunately, irritates my stomach.
We have not seen betaine glucuronate supplement for sale.
Do you have any idea how much
anhydrous betaine can be found in beet root powder?
Good question. We don't know.
When I take betaine hcl
supplements, I get a headache and tighter shoulders. I know my liver is
very congested, metals, inflammation - everything - biologically, what
does betaine do in your body? I found this on betaine - maybe there is
another form better for me then the hcl betaine - I think it puts stress
on the liver somehow and I get a headache... or gall bladder meridian - my
liver is congested badly. A dosage of 2,000 - 4,000 mg (2 - 4 grams) per
day of the Trimethylglycine (TMG) form of Betaine is commonly recommended
for people with pre-existing Liver Disease. Orally-administered Betaine is
rapidly absorbed. Peak concentrations of Betaine are reached in less than
one hour after its oral ingestion. The elimination half-life of
orally-administered Betaine is approximately 14 hours after a single dose.
This half-life increases to 41 hours after five days of daily doses.
Following its ingestion, Betaine is converted to Dimethyl Glycine (DMG)
within the Liver. Plasma DMG levels increase significantly after betaine
ingestion. Approximately 4% of Betaine is excreted unchanged via the
Kidneys (indicating that the remaining 96% is metabolized within the body
to form other compounds such as DMG).
Often the side effects of supplements, such as betaine, are due
to the high dosages used. Taking a portion of the amount normally taken
can eliminate or minimize the side effects.
Does betaine hcl enhance sexual
libido effects as does
tongkat ali herbal extract?
We have not seen any mention in research papers of betaine hcl having this effect.
How long does it take after starting betaine
supplement use before noticing liver betaine benefits?
There are a number of different liver conditions, and
each with its own severity, so it is not easy to know or make
predictions.
Can a bilberry supplement be taken with betaine hcl?
What about bacopa herb that works for mental improvement?
If the dosages are low, yes.
Would it be safe to use
yohimbe herb bark along with betaine?
We have not seen studies with betaine pills together with herbs
used for erectile enhancement.
I had a question regarding betaine hydrochloride. I
have had candida for very long time 10 years and it has been causing chronic
inflammation in my liver, stomach, intestines, I have not been able to recover
and have tried many candida treatments in the last 10 years. I recently
discovered that I have a gastroparesis obviously a result from the long-term
gastritis caused by it. But every time I do treatment or the candida I just get
worse and never get past the die off. In fact treating the candida just makes my
gastroparesis symptoms worse. I'm pretty sure my gastroparesis is accompanied by
low stomach acid. When I take betaine hydrochloride even at six tablets I still
don't get any heartburn. In fact I haven't had heartburn for a few years now as
my condition got worse. My question is what is a safe dosage for the teen
hydrochloride when doing a challenge? I'm pretty sure I have a severe stomach
acid deficiency but what is the maximum dose of hydrochloride a person can take?
I would like to keep increasing until I get heartburn so I can back off one and
take the required amount. The tablets are 600 mg, I don't experience any warming
sensation or heartburn even at six pills. One other question I have is if taking
betaine hydrochloride would it affect your blood pH if you're trying to keep or
raise it in alkalinity?
We have not seen any safety studies with betaine hcl in terms
of maximum dosage and how it influences blood pH.
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