Beneficial Effects of Betaine: A Comprehensive Review
Medicinal herbs and many food ingredients possess favorable biological properties that contribute to their therapeutic activities. One such natural product is betaine, a stable, nontoxic natural substance that is present in animals, plants, and microorganisms. Betaine is also endogenously synthesize...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Biology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/10/6/456 |
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| author | Madan Kumar Arumugam Matthew C. Paal Terrence M. Donohue Murali Ganesan Natalia A. Osna Kusum K. Kharbanda |
| author_facet | Madan Kumar Arumugam Matthew C. Paal Terrence M. Donohue Murali Ganesan Natalia A. Osna Kusum K. Kharbanda |
| author_sort | Madan Kumar Arumugam |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Medicinal herbs and many food ingredients possess favorable biological properties that contribute to their therapeutic activities. One such natural product is betaine, a stable, nontoxic natural substance that is present in animals, plants, and microorganisms. Betaine is also endogenously synthesized through the metabolism of choline or exogenously consumed through dietary intake. Betaine mainly functions as (i) an osmolyte and (ii) a methyl-group donor. This review describes the major physiological effects of betaine in whole-body health and its ability to protect against both liver- as well as non-liver-related diseases and conditions. Betaine’s role in preventing/attenuating both alcohol-induced and metabolic-associated liver diseases has been well studied and is extensively reviewed here. Several studies show that betaine protects against the development of alcohol-induced hepatic steatosis, apoptosis, and accumulation of damaged proteins. Additionally, it can significantly prevent/attenuate progressive liver injury by preserving gut integrity and adipose function. The protective effects are primarily associated with the regulation of methionine metabolism through removing homocysteine and maintaining cellular SAM:SAH ratios. Similarly, betaine prevents metabolic-associated fatty liver disease and its progression. In addition, betaine has a neuroprotective role, preserves myocardial function, and prevents pancreatic steatosis. Betaine also attenuates oxidant stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, inflammation, and cancer development. To conclude, betaine exerts significant therapeutic and biological effects that are potentially beneficial for alleviating a diverse number of human diseases and conditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:09:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4999467d40f44c86a306c506a61a0386 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-7737 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:09:11Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-4999467d40f44c86a306c506a61a03862023-11-21T20:54:45ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372021-05-0110645610.3390/biology10060456Beneficial Effects of Betaine: A Comprehensive ReviewMadan Kumar Arumugam0Matthew C. Paal1Terrence M. Donohue2Murali Ganesan3Natalia A. Osna4Kusum K. Kharbanda5Research Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USAResearch Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USAResearch Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USAResearch Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USAResearch Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USAResearch Service, Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USAMedicinal herbs and many food ingredients possess favorable biological properties that contribute to their therapeutic activities. One such natural product is betaine, a stable, nontoxic natural substance that is present in animals, plants, and microorganisms. Betaine is also endogenously synthesized through the metabolism of choline or exogenously consumed through dietary intake. Betaine mainly functions as (i) an osmolyte and (ii) a methyl-group donor. This review describes the major physiological effects of betaine in whole-body health and its ability to protect against both liver- as well as non-liver-related diseases and conditions. Betaine’s role in preventing/attenuating both alcohol-induced and metabolic-associated liver diseases has been well studied and is extensively reviewed here. Several studies show that betaine protects against the development of alcohol-induced hepatic steatosis, apoptosis, and accumulation of damaged proteins. Additionally, it can significantly prevent/attenuate progressive liver injury by preserving gut integrity and adipose function. The protective effects are primarily associated with the regulation of methionine metabolism through removing homocysteine and maintaining cellular SAM:SAH ratios. Similarly, betaine prevents metabolic-associated fatty liver disease and its progression. In addition, betaine has a neuroprotective role, preserves myocardial function, and prevents pancreatic steatosis. Betaine also attenuates oxidant stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, inflammation, and cancer development. To conclude, betaine exerts significant therapeutic and biological effects that are potentially beneficial for alleviating a diverse number of human diseases and conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/10/6/456alcoholadipose tissuebetainediethepatic steatosismethylation |
| spellingShingle | Madan Kumar Arumugam Matthew C. Paal Terrence M. Donohue Murali Ganesan Natalia A. Osna Kusum K. Kharbanda Beneficial Effects of Betaine: A Comprehensive Review Biology alcohol adipose tissue betaine diet hepatic steatosis methylation |
| title | Beneficial Effects of Betaine: A Comprehensive Review |
| title_full | Beneficial Effects of Betaine: A Comprehensive Review |
| title_fullStr | Beneficial Effects of Betaine: A Comprehensive Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Beneficial Effects of Betaine: A Comprehensive Review |
| title_short | Beneficial Effects of Betaine: A Comprehensive Review |
| title_sort | beneficial effects of betaine a comprehensive review |
| topic | alcohol adipose tissue betaine diet hepatic steatosis methylation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/10/6/456 |
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