The molecular formula of betaine (trimethylaminoglycine) is (CH3)3NCH2COO-, which is non-hygroscopic, non-toxic, stable in physical and chemical properties, resistant to high temperatures (200°C). Betaine can participate in the methyl cycle in animals, and can be used as a nutritional feed additive to partially replace methionine, reducing the production cost of feed. Betaine has a certain therapeutic effect on human cardiovascular, neurological, liver and homocysteinuria diseases, and can be used as an alternative medicine.

People including children, contain very little betaine in their urine, and the addition of betaine intake will not affect their excretion. However, in some patients, the urine content of betaine is very high. For example, about 1/3 diabetic patients and other patients with secretion disorders have abnormal betaine excretion, and the incidence of arterial vascular disease in these people is generally high.

Homocysteine is a risk factor for arterial vascular disease. The loss of betaine leads to an increase in homocysteine. Although folic acid and other vitamins can reduce homocysteine, they cannot reduce the incidence of arterial vascular disease. Tissue storage of betaine regulates cell capacity and supplies methyl groups for the homocysteine cycle and other necessary biological methylation effects. Especially when folic acid is limited, supplementation of betaine is a useful treatment.

Studies have also shown that betaine reduces the level of homocysteine ​​while actually reducing the risk of osteoporosis. Higher saturated fat and cholesterol in the diet are related to the death of coronary heart disease. When beet sugar is added to wine to increase the alcohol content, betaine is often added to the wine. It is found that a certain amount of betaine is found in French commercial wine, which can inhibit ischemic coronary heart disease, reduce the content of methionine, and then facilitate the degradation of fat and inhibit the occurrence of coronary heart disease.