Betaine is a metabolite of choline, and is also known as Trimethylglycine or TMG. Betaine works by donating methyl (CH3) groups. Betaine has the ability to convert homocysteine to methionine. Additional methyl donors include DMAE and the nutrient Choline Bitartrate.Unless your major is college was chemistry, chances are you dont remember learning about methyl donors. A methyl donor is simply any substance that can transfer a methyl group, a carbon atom attached to three hydrogen atoms, to another substance. Many important biochemical processes rely on methylation, including the metabolism of lipids, neurotransmitters, and DNA. Scientists suspect that adequate methylation of DNA can prevent the expression of harmful genes, such as cancer genes. Its quite likely that our bodys ability to methylate declines with age, potentially contributing to the aging process, and therefore supplementation is an interesting potential in terms of health benefits.
Source Naturals - Betaine HC1, 650 mg, 180 Tablets

According to the manufacturer: In the stomach, hydrochloric acid converts
pepsinogen to pepsin, an enzyme that breaks down protein. Pepsin breaks down
proteins into smaller, more easily absorbed substances. As people age,
hydrochloric acid secretion may be reduced, which can result in decreased levels
of pepsin. Without proper pepsin levels, the body has a difficult time digesting
food. Betaine hydrochloride is used as a supplemental source of hydrochloric
acid, which can be utilized by the stomach to produce pepsin. The combination of
betaine hydrochloride and pepsin provide an excellent stomach tonic.
You can buy
Betaine-hcl here.
Betaine Hcl Supplement Facts
Betaine Hydrochloride - 650 mg *
Pepsin 1: 3000 - 165 mg *
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Betaine study
Betaine lowers
homocysteine levels.
Betaine has been found to protect liver cells from toxins.
Betaine is a safe and well tolerated nutrient that leads to a significant biochemical and
histological improvement in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
Betaine supplement benefit
Betaine, whether ingested as a supplement or through food, raises plasma
betaine concentrations but does not raise plasma dimethylglycine
DMG
concentration. Betaine ingestion leads to a small decrease in plasma
homocysteine levels.
Source Naturals - Betaine HC1, 650 mg, 180 Tablets
In the stomach, hydrochloric acid converts
pepsinogen to pepsin, an enzyme that breaks down protein. Pepsin breaks
down proteins into smaller, more easily absorbed substances. As people
age, hydrochloric acid secretion may be reduced, which can result in
decreased levels of pepsin. Without proper pepsin levels, the body has a
difficult time digesting food. Betaine hydrochloride is used as a
supplemental source of hydrochloric acid, which can be utilized by the
stomach to produce pepsin. The combination of betaine hydrochloride and
pepsin provide an excellent stomach tonic.
Betaine Hydrochloride
Pepsin 1: 3000
Betaine Research Update
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 heatlhy, 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.