A novel method to analyze betaine in chicken liver: effect of dietary betaine and choline supplementation on the hepatic betaine concentration in broiler chicks.
Betaine was measured from liver tissue by a high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method developed for this study. The method involves homogenization of liver in acetate buffer at pH 6 and precipitation of protein with trichloroacetic acid, which was removed by diethyl ether extraction. Betaine was separated using a cation exchange column in Ca(2+) form and detected with a refractive index detector. This method also allows the determination of S-adenosylmethionine (S-AM) from the same liver extract but with different HPLC conditions. Broiler chicks were fed with experimental diets supplemented with four different doses of betaine or choline ranging from 0 to 5 mol equiv. After a 3 week feeding period, the livers were analyzed for betaine and S-AM. Dietary betaine was twice as efficient in increasing the hepatic betaine concentration as dietary choline. The hepatic S-AM concentrations were similar in all dietary treatments.
Danisco Cultor Innovation, Technology Center, Kantvik, Sokeritehtaantie 20, FIN-02460 Kantvik, Finland. Saarinen@danisco.com
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Saarinen
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Kettunen
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Pulliainen
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Peuranen
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Tiihonen
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Remus
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001622:Betaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002645:Chickens; D002794:Choline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange / Q000379:methods; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry*; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D001622:Betaine; D002794:Choline