Effects of Betaine on Energy Utilization in Growing Pigs - A Review

The Role of Betaine in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: a Narrative Review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This narrative review aimed to explore the functions of betaine and discuss its role in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

RECENT FINDINGS

Some studies on CKD animal models have shown the benefits of betaine supplementation, including decreased kidney damage, antioxidant recovery status, and decreased inflammation. Betaine (N-trimethylglycine) is an N-trimethylated amino acid with an essential regulatory osmotic function. Moreover, it is a methyl donor and has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Additionally, betaine has positive effects on intestinal health by regulating the osmolality and gut microbiota. Due to these crucial functions, betaine has been studied in several diseases, including CKD, in which betaine plasma levels decline with the progression of the disease. Low betaine levels are linked to increased kidney damage, inflammation, oxidative stress, and intestinal dysbiosis. Furthermore, betaine is considered an essential metabolite for identifying CKD stages.

Betaine Regulates the Production of Reactive Oxygen Species Through Wnt10b Signaling in the Liver of Zebrafish

When fish are under oxidative stress, levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are chronically elevated, which play a crucial role in fish innate immunity. In the present study, the mechanism by which betaine regulates ROS production via Wnt10b/β-catenin signaling was investigated in zebrafish liver. Our results showed that betaine enrichment of diet at 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 g/kg induced Wnt10b and β-catenin gene expression, but suppressed GSK-3β expression in zebrafish liver. In addition, the content of superoxide anion (O₂^·−), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and hydroxyl radical (·OH) was decreased by all of the experimental betaine treatments. However, betaine enrichment of diet at 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 g/kg enhanced gene expression and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and catalase (CAT) in zebrafish liver. In addition, Wnt10b RNA was further interfered in zebrafish, and the results of Wnt10b RNAi indicated that Wnt10b plays a key role in regulating ROS production and antioxidant enzyme activity. In conclusion, betaine can inhibit ROS production in zebrafish liver through the Wnt10b/β-catenin signaling pathway.

The effect of activated silicon dioxide and betaine supplementation on quails' growth and productivity

Background and Aim:

Silicon dioxide and betaine supplements are essential in the poultry diet to improve growth and laying performance. This study aimed to determine the effect of activated silicon dioxide (ASD) and betaine supplementation on quails’ growth performance during the starter period and on follicular development and productive parameters at the onset of the laying period.

Materials and Methods:

The research used 1064 quails, aged 7 days. Four treatments were employed: A basal diet (control), a diet supplemented with 200 ppm ASD, a diet supplemented with 0.12% betaine, and a diet supplemented with a combination of 200 ppm ASD and 0.12% betaine (ASD+Betaine). Each diet group included seven replicates of 38 quails. The observed parameters were the quails’ growth performance during the starter period and follicular development and egg production during the onset of the laying period.

Results:

The results showed that combined supplementation with ASD+Betaine improved the quails’ growth performance during the starter period (p<0.05). However, these supplements, either as single feed additives or in combination, did not affect ovarian and follicular characteristics during the onset of the laying period. Still, ASD and betaine enhanced egg production and weight. The highest magnitude of change resulted from combined supplementation with ASD+Betaine (p<0.05).

Conclusion:

The ASD+Betaine could be productively applied to quails’ diets during the starter period and at the onset of the laying period.

Supplementation Effect of Oleuropein Extract Combined with Betaine, Magnesium, and Vitamin E on Pigs' Performance and Meat Quality Characteristics

Simple Summary

Oleuropein, betaine, magnesium, and vitamin E show antioxidant and/or metabolic effects on the organism that are reflected, in many cases, in performances and meat quality. This study evaluated whether the combination of these nutrients at two doses manifest different effects on the final product. Both combinations were enough to improve the oxidative status of pigs, although performances were not affected. However, the higher doses increased n-6 and n-3 PUFA in the triglycerides and free fatty acid fractions that resulted in meat that was more susceptible to oxidation.

Abstract

This study evaluates the effect of the dietary combination of oleuropein extract (1200 mg/kg) and betaine (1000 mg/kg), magnesium oxide (600 mg/kg), and α–tocopheryl acetate (400 mg/kg), or a half-dose of these compounds, on pigs’ performance, oxidative status, and meat quality characteristics (drip loss, TBARS, and texture and fatty acid profile of intramuscular fat). Sixty-six barrows and females were slaughtered at 120 kg of BW. Performance and carcass yield were not changed by treatments. The high-dose mixture resulted in higher serum ferric reducing/antioxidant power (p = 0.0026), lower glucose (p = 0.03) and a tendency to have lower serum TBARS (p = 0.07) when compared to control. Percentage of drip loss, moisture content, intramuscular fat, or texture parameters were not modified by dietary treatments. Pigs supplemented with the high-dose mixture had higher PUFA (p = 0.0001), n-6 (p = 0.0001), n-3 (p = 0.0095) and lower MUFA (p = 0.0064) in the neutral lipid fraction of intramuscular fat. Free PUFA, mainly n-3 fatty acids (p = 0.0009), were also higher in the meat of pigs fed the high-dose mixture compared with the others. A higher mobilization (neutral to free fatty acids hydrolysis) of n-3 and MUFA fatty acids in the muscle from pigs fed the high-dose mixture was observed. However, dietary mixture supplementation tended to increase MUFA (p = 0.056) and decrease the total PUFA (p = 0.0074) proportions in muscle polar lipids. This specific fatty acid composition of meat from pigs supplemented with the high-dose mixture could be responsible for the higher meat lipid oxidation observed in this group when compared to the other groups. Consequently, the low-dose mixture would be more adequate for maintaining the oxidative status of pigs and, meat lipid stability.

Changes in Bull Semen Metabolome in Relation to Cryopreservation and Fertility

Semen cryopreservation determines several sperm damages, including the loss of fertility-associated proteins. The purpose of the study was to compare the metabolite contents in bovine sperm and seminal plasma before and after cryopreservation, and between high- and low-fertility bulls in vitro. Forty-eight ejaculates, collected from eight bulls (six per bull), were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Cryopreservation resulted in an over-expression of lysophosphatidylcholine (0:0/18:2(9Z,12Z)) in seminal plasma. In addition, higher levels of glycine betaine and pyro-l-glutaminyl-l-glutamine were observed in cryopreserved compared to fresh spermatozoa. The fresh seminal plasma of high-fertility bulls showed an over-expression of l-acetylcarnitine, glycerol tripropanoate, 2,3-diacetoxypropyl stearate and glycerophosphocholine, and an under-expression of lysophosphatidylcholine and butyrylcarnitine, compared to low-fertility bulls. Higher levels of glycerophosphocholine and lysophosphatidylcholine (16:0/0:0) were recorded in fresh spermatozoa from high-fertility bulls. In high-fertility bulls, a greater content of glycerophosphocholine and lower levels of butyrylcarnitine, glycine betaine and l-carnitine were found in cryopreserved seminal plasma, and lower levels of glycine betaine were detected in cryopreserved spermatozoa. In conclusion, cryopreservation affects bovine semen metabolome at both plasmatic and cellular compartments, and metabolic profile differs between high- and low-fertility bulls.

Dietary Betaine Addition Promotes Hepatic Cholesterol Synthesis, Bile Acid Conversion, and Export in Rats

It is widely reported how betaine addition regulates lipid metabolism but how betaine affects cholesterol metabolism is still unknown. This study aimed to investigate the role of betaine in hepatic cholesterol metabolism of Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats were randomly allocated to four groups and fed with a basal diet or a high-fat diet with or without 1% betaine. The experiment lasted 28 days. The results showed that dietary betaine supplementation reduced the feed intake of rats with final weight unchanged. Serum low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol was increased with the high-fat diet. The high-fat diet promoted cholesterol synthesis and excretion by enhancing the HMG-CoA reductase and ABCG5/G8, respectively, which lead to a balance of hepatic cholesterol. Rats in betaine groups showed a higher level of hepatic total cholesterol. Dietary betaine addition enhanced cholesterol synthesis as well as conversion of bile acid from cholesterol by increasing the levels of HMGCR and CYP7A1. The high-fat diet decreased the level of bile salt export pump, while dietary betaine addition inhibited this decrease and promoted bile acid efflux and increased total bile acid levels in the intestine. In summary, dietary betaine addition promoted hepatic cholesterol metabolism, including cholesterol synthesis, conversion of bile acids, and bile acid export.

Protective effect of betaine against lead-induced testicular toxicity in male mice

Lead (Pb) is an environmental toxicant reported to impair male reproductive system. Betaine is a natural product which has promising beneficial effects against oxidative stress. In this experimental study, we evaluated the ameliorative effect of betaine on sperm quality and oxidative stress induced by lead (Pb) in the testis of adult male mice. Sixty male Kunming mice were divided equally into four groups: control group, betaine group (1% in drinking water), lead group (100 mg kg^-1  bw^-1  day^-1 ) and betaine + lead group. In the last group, mice were supplemented with betaine for two weeks prior to the initiation of lead treatment and concurrently during lead treatment for 3 weeks until sacrificed. Our results indicated that in the lead-administrated group, body weights together with sperm count were significantly decreased (p < .05). The numbers of abnormal sperms were found to be higher in lead-treated mice. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (Cat) were significantly reduced, while the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) content was increased in the testis tissue following lead treatment. The mRNA levels of antioxidant-related genes (SOD1, GPX1 and CAT) were significantly decreased in the lead group. Betaine enhanced these parameters in betaine + lead group. In testis histology span, Johnson score was decreased (p < .05) in lead group and co-treatment with betaine increased Johnson score significantly in betaine + lead group. These results indicate that betaine improves sperm quality and ameliorate oxidative damage in testis of mice exposed to lead.

Osmoregulatory function of betaine in alleviating heat stress in poultry

This review focuses on the osmoregulatory function of betaine and its effect in terms of alleviating heat stress in poultry. Poultry appear to be particularly sensitive to temperature-associated environmental challenges, especially heat stress. High ambient temperatures are deleterious to productive performance in poultry, including broilers, laying hens, quails and turkeys, resulting in considerable economic losses. Heat stress impairs overall poultry production by decreasing feed intake and negatively affecting intestinal development, leading to reduced nutrient digestibility. Apart from inducing a high mortality rate, heat stress is known to depress growth rate and reduce meat yield in broilers. In layers, lower feed intake impairs ovarian function, leading to decreased feed efficiency, egg production and egg quality. In addition, reduced immune functions, such as thyroid activity and antibody production, are evident in poultry exposed to heat stress. Heat stress increases the production of oxidants, causing oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation of cell membranes. Poultry respond physiologically and behaviourally when encountering the negative effects of heat stress, attempting to return the body to homeostasis. This requires energy at the expense of weight gain or egg production. Due to its zwitterionic structure, betaine has osmoprotective properties that aid in protecting intestinal cell proteins and enzymes from environmental stress, including high ambient temperature, thereby counteracting performance losses. Betaine also exerts an osmoregulatory role in cells, regulating water balance, and this results in more stable tissue metabolism. Inclusion of betaine in the diet may be beneficial for alleviating physical reactions to heat stress, as indicated by increases in nutrient digestibility. In broilers, betaine supplementation increases weight gain and breast muscle yield, while improving feed conversion. In layers, betaine supplementation improves egg production, egg quality traits and immune indices. In conclusion, due to its osmoregulatory functions, betaine plays an important role in alleviating heat stress in poultry.

The metabolic burden of methyl donor deficiency with focus on the betaine homocysteine methyltransferase pathway

Methyl groups are important for numerous cellular functions such as DNA methylation, phosphatidylcholine synthesis, and protein synthesis. The methyl group can directly be delivered by dietary methyl donors, including methionine, folate, betaine, and choline. The liver and the muscles appear to be the major organs for methyl group metabolism. Choline can be synthesized from phosphatidylcholine via the cytidine-diphosphate (CDP) pathway. Low dietary choline loweres methionine formation and causes a marked increase in S-adenosylmethionine utilization in the liver. The link between choline, betaine, and energy metabolism in humans indicates novel functions for these nutrients. This function appears to goes beyond the role of the nutrients in gene methylation and epigenetic control. Studies that simulated methyl-deficient diets reported disturbances in energy metabolism and protein synthesis in the liver, fatty liver, or muscle disorders. Changes in plasma concentrations of total homocysteine (tHcy) reflect one aspect of the metabolic consequences of methyl group deficiency or nutrient supplementations. Folic acid supplementation spares betaine as a methyl donor. Betaine is a significant determinant of plasma tHcy, particularly in case of folate deficiency, methionine load, or alcohol consumption. Betaine supplementation has a lowering effect on post-methionine load tHcy. Hypomethylation and tHcy elevation can be attenuated when choline or betaine is available.