Betaine

What is betaine?

Betaine is an amino acid-like substance, a nonessential nutrient, which can be produced in your body from the vitamin choline, so you do not need to get it from foods in order to be healthy ^[1].

Other names for betaine: glycine betaine, trimethylglycine, lycine, oxyneurine ^[1].

Betaine Functions in the Human Body

Betaine ^[1,3]:

• Protects cells, proteins, and enzymes from environmental stress, such as dehydration, high salinity or extreme temperature
• Is a donor of methyl (CH₃) groups; it is involved in the synthesis of adrenaline, carnitine, creatine and methionine, among other

Foods High in Betaine

• PLANT FOODS: wheat germ and bran, beets, sweet potatoes, barley, broccoli, spinach ^[2,3]
• Foods high in choline (meat, fish, legumes) are also a good source of betaine.

Betaine Supplements

• Oral betaine anhydrous supplements are available without prescription (over-the-counter).
• Oral betaine hydrochloride as a source of hydrochloric acid for individuals with hypochlorhydria (low gastric acid) ^[3].

Betaine Health Benefits

Betaine anhydrous supplements are EFFECTIVE in the prevention or treatment of homocystinuria (high homocystine levels in certain hereditary metabolic disorders) ^[4]; for this use it is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ^[5].

Betaine hydrochloride is LIKELY EFFECTIVE in the prevention of mortality in infants with a hereditary metabolic disorder methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) deficiency ^[7,8].

Betaine anhydrous used in a toothpaste is POSSIBLY EFFECTIVE in reducing dry mouth ^[4] and lowering blood levels of homocysteine (hyperhomocysteinemia) ^[4]

There is INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE ^[4] about the effectiveness of betaine anhydrous in the prevention or treatment of acid reflux, colorectal adenomas, coronary heart disease, hepatitis C, nonalcoholic fatty liver, Rett syndrome or sunburns (as a cream) or in increasing exercise performance ^[3,6] or promoting weight loss.

Betaine anhydrous is POSSIBLY INEFFECTIVE in the treatment of the hereditary disorder Angelman syndrome ^[4].

Betaine Safety: Side Effects, Toxicity

Oral betaine anhydrous supplements in daily doses up to 15 g/day are LIKELY SAFE for most adults and children ^[3,4].

Side effects in high doses may include nausea, stomach upset and diarrhea. Betaine can increase blood levels of total and LDL cholesterol in some people ^[4].

During pregnancy. Not enough studies about the use of betaine supplements during pregnancy and breastfeeding have been done, so women should avoid them during these periods.