Betaine Monohydrate is used as a component of energy foods and dietary supplements that provide intense muscular effort. It is also used as a methyl group donor in the remethylation of homocysteine to methionine in patients with homocystinuria.

An estimated pKa of 2.38 indicates that betaine will exist as an inner salt in the environment and it is not expected to volatilize from soil surfaces(SRC). The compound is easily mineralized under aerobic conditions(SRC). Stability tests on NF showed that it remains stable up to 40 months, when stored in its original packaging, protected against humidity.

Water Solubility

Betaine is a zwitterionic quaternary ammonium compound present in a wide variety of organisms, microorganisms and plants (especially shellfish, flour and vegetables). It acts as an osmolyte and enhances the performance of several mammalian organs such as the liver, hearth and kidney. It is also used to treat homocystinuria, a genetic disorder associated with a defect in methylation pathways.

In aqueous solution, Betaine Monohydrate exhibits good water solubility, and it is readily absorbed into biological cells. Moreover, it acts as a cofactor in many enzymatic reactions. Among other functions, it decreases the base pair composition dependence of DNA thermal melting transitions and is a potent denaturant of specific G and C bases in the single-stranded DNA state.

This product is harmful by inhalation, skin contact and swallowing. It can cause allergic skin and eye irritation. If exposed to the skin, wash with soap and plenty of water. If it is swallowed, seek medical attention immediately. Engineering controls, such as process enclosures and local exhaust ventilation should be used to keep airborne levels below recommended exposure limits.

Bioavailability

Betaine is readily absorbed in the human body after oral administration and is excreted by the kidneys. No toxicological information is available on long-term betaine administration, but short-term oral doses of betaine do not cause clinical symptoms of toxicity.

Betaine has choline-like properties and is present in many foods, including meat, dairy products, fish, eggs, nuts and legumes. The FDA has approved betaine for use as an over-the-counter treatment for a genetic disorder called homocystinuria, under the brand name Cystadane, and as an ingredient in some prescription medicines, such as Amversio.

Betaine transfers a methyl group via betaine homocysteine methyl transferase (BHMT) to homocysteine, converting it back to methionine and dimethylglycine (DMG). It reduces plasma levels of elevated homocysteine in patients with cystathionine beta-synthase deficiency or with deficiencies in the enzymes 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, or cbl. It also decreases plasma methionine concentrations in patients with CBS deficiency and dietary restriction. In addition, betaine increases plasma s-adenosyl methionine and improves metabolic abnormalities in cerebrospinal fluid in these patients.

Excess Water

Betaine does not produce a significant amount of excess water. In addition, it is not expected to volatilize from moist soil or water surfaces because ionic compounds do not volatilize.

Betaine has been shown to promote lipid synthesis in the liver and intestine of humans. This can help people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In studies, betaine has also been used to reduce higher levels of homocysteine in the blood. High levels of homocysteine are associated with heart disease and stroke.

Betaine is a natural dietary attractant for many fish species. It is known to increase fish growth and survival rates in a variety of environments. It is also known as a key player in methyl donation and osmoregulation during the transfer of salmon and trout from freshwater to seawater. It has been used in combination with other dietary attractants to improve the efficacy of commercial baits.

Chemical Composition

Betaine is a quaternary ammonium zwitterion, a naturally occurring organic osmolyte found in animals, plants and microorganisms. It is soluble in methanol, ethanol and sparingly soluble in ether.

It is a natural component of many foods, such as tomatoes and beets. It is also manufactured by the body and is used for fatty acid synthesis and to help make carnitine, a compound important in energy production. It is also an effective dietary treatment for the inherited condition homocystinuria, which causes high levels of plasma homocysteine. In combination with folic acid and vitamin B6, betaine reduces elevated homocysteine levels.