Product Information
 

Betaine HCL optimises digestion, increases the Body’s Production of Hydrochloric Acid, may prevent and treat Allergies. It also alleviates many cases of Heartburn.

Description

Betaine is a type of Alkaloid that functions as a methyl donor.

Health Benefits of Betaine

Cardiovascular System

Betaine (especially the Trimethylglycine (TMG) form of Betaine) may help to prevent Cardiovascular Diseases (due to Betaine functioning as a methyl donor which lowers Homocysteine levels).

Digestive System

Betaine Hydrochloride may reduce the risk of Gallstones in persons with low levels of Hydrochloric Acid (i.e. in persons afflicted with Hypochlorhydria).
Betaine Hydrochloride may alleviate many cases of Heartburn (by increasing the level of Hydrochloric Acid in the Stomach).

Betaine Hydrochloride functions as a supplemental source of Hydrochloric Acid for Hypochlorhydria patients.
Betaine Hydrochloride may be useful for the treatment of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth Syndrome (Hypochlorhydria (lack of Hydrochloric Acid) patients have increased risk of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth Syndrome. Betaine Hydrochloride is a source of supplemental Hydrochloric Acid that may eliminate Hypochlorhydria and therefore eliminate the underlying cause of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth Syndrome).

Immune System

Betaine Hydrochloride may prevent and treat Allergies (insufficient production of Hydrochloric Acid in the Stomach (Hypochlorhydria) is believed to be an underlying cause of some Allergies and Betaine Hydrochloride is a supplemental source of Hydrochloric Acid).
Betaine Hydrochloride may suppress or kill Helicobacter pylori (Hypochlorhydria (lack of Hydrochloric Acid) patients have increased levels of Helicobacter pylori – Betaine Hydrochloride is a source of supplemental Hydrochloric Acid).

Metabolism

Betaine may improve Athletic Performance (by improving the body’s Energy levels, increasing Stamina and improving the body’s utilization of Oxygen).
Betaine may increase the body’s Energy levels.
Betaine may increase the Liver's efficiency in metabolizing Fatty Acids.
Betaine may reduce elevated Homocysteine levels (during its metabolism within the body, Betaine transfers one of its Methyl Groups to Homocysteine, causing Homocysteine to be converted to Methionine; Betaine, by losing one methyl group becomes Dimethyl Glycine (DMG)).
Betaine may detoxify and stimulate the Liver: · Betaine may help to prevent Cirrhosis. · Betaine may help to prevent and reverse Fatty Liver.
Betaine may improve the body’s utilization of Oxygen.
Betaine may increase Stamina.

Nervous System

Betaine (TMG form) may retard the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease (by lowering elevated Homocysteine levels).
Betaine may improve the behavior and Mental Function of children afflicted with Down’s Syndrome (this improvement may be due to Betaine functioning as a methyl donor).

Skin

Betaine (Betaine Hydrochloride form) may be useful for the treatment of Hives (due to the Hydrochloric Acid content of Betaine Hydrochloride).

Betaine may Enhance the Function of these Substances

Amino Acids

Betaine (especially the Trimethylglycine (TMG) form of Betaine) may increase S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe) levels.
When the Trimethylglycine (TMG) form of Betaine is utilized in the conversion of Homocysteine to Methionine (by functioning as a methyl donor), it is converted to Dimethylglycine (DMG). This conversion is catalyzed by the enzyme Betaine-Homocysteine Methyltransferase (BHMT).

Enzymes

Betaine may increase the activity of the Betaine-Homocysteine Methyltransferase (BHMT) enzyme.

Nucleic Compounds

Betaine (TMG form) may help to protect the body’s cellular Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) from damage (by functioning as a methyl donor).

Vitamins

Betaine (Betaine Hydrochloride form only) may facilitate the absorption of Folic Acid.

Betaine may Counteract these Toxic Substances

Amino Acids

Betaine (especially the Trimethylglycine (TMG) form of Betaine) may lower elevated Homocysteine levels.

Recreational Drugs

Betaine (especially the Trimethylglycine (TMG) form of Betaine) may help to prevent Alcohol (ethanol)-induced Fatty Liver. TMG may also counteract some other aspects of Alcohol toxicity.

Betaine (especially the Trimethylglycine (TMG) form of Betaine) may help to prevent the Liver damage that can occur with high-dose Nicotinic Acid therapy.

These Substances may Enhance the Function of Betaine

Enzymes

The Betaine-Homocysteine Methyltransferase (BHMT) enzyme catalyzes the conversion of Betaine (together with Homocysteine) to Dimethyl Glycine (DMG) and Methionine.
Choline Oxidase catalyzes the conversion of Choline to Betaine Aldehyde and subsequently catalyzes the conversion of Betaine Aldehyde to Betaine.

Vitamins

Betaine can be manufactured within the body as a degradation by-product of Choline (via the Choline Oxidase Enzyme).

Dietary Sources of Betaine - (mg of Betaine per 100 grams)
Cereal Grains: Wheat Bran 1,339 Wheat Germ 1,241
Herbs: Astragalus Cola
Echinacea Lycium
Processed Foods: Pretzels 237
Seafood: Shrimp 218
Vegetables: Beetroot Broccoli
Spinach 645
Forms of Betaine

Betaine Hydrochloride (Betaine HCl) consists of 76% Betaine combined with 24% Hydrochloride (HCl). It is used as a supplemental form of Hydrochloric Acid. Some ers have stated that Betaine Hydrochloride does not provide the therapeutic effects attributable to pure Betaine (Trimethylglycine).
Trimethylglycine (TMG) is 100% Betaine and is purported to be the optimum form of Betaine for all uses other than correcting Hydrochloric Acid deficiency.

Dosage Recommendations

Cardiovascular System

The preventative dosage of the Trimethylglycine (TMG) form of Betaine commonly used by healthy people to prevent Cardiovascular Diseases is 500 mg per day.
A dosage of 2,000 - 6,000 mg (2 - 6 grams) per day of the Trimethylglycine (TMG) form of Betaine is commonly recommended for people with pre-existing Cardiovascular Disease.

Digestive System

When the Betaine Hydrochloride form of Betaine is used for the correction of Hydrochloric Acid deficiency (Hypochlorhydria), the usual dosage is 325 - 800 mg taken with each meal (a total of 975 - 2,400 mg per day).

Metabolism

A dosage of 2,000 - 4,000 mg (2 - 4 grams) per day of the Trimethylglycine (TMG) form of Betaine is commonly recommended for people with pre-existing Liver Disease.

Bioavailability

Orally-administered Betaine is rapidly absorbed.
Peak concentrations of Betaine are reached in less than one hour after its oral ingestion.
The elimination half-life of orally-administered Betaine is approximately 14.5 hours after a single dose. This half-life increases to 41 hours after five days of daily doses.

Following its ingestion, Betaine is converted to Dimethyl Glycine (DMG) within the Liver. Plasma DMG levels increase significantly after Betaine ingestion.
Approximately 4% of Betaine is excreted unchanged via the Kidneys (indicating that the remaining 96% is metabolized within the body to form other compounds such as DMG).

* * * * *