Betaine supplementation and blood lipids: fact or artifact?
Betaine supplementation in humans has been shown to lower plasma homocysteine concentrations in modestly hyperhomocysteinemic patients. Betaine treatment is associated with increased plasma low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, suggesting that although betaine supplementation lowers homocysteine, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, changes in blood lipids may have a counterbalancing effect. However, whether the betaine effect on LDL concentration is a clinically significant problem that should change treatment options or is simply an artifact needs further study.
Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health and School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. steven_zeisel@unc.edu
Steven H
SH
Zeisel
D001622:Betaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008082:Lipotropic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D008055:Lipids; D008082:Lipotropic Agents; D006710:Homocysteine; D001622:Betaine