Betaine is a nutrient that's made in the body by combining choline with glycine. It's found in a variety of foods, including wheat germ.

It's most known for its ability to lower the level of the amino acid homocysteine in the blood. High levels of homocysteine have been linked to heart disease.

Benefits

If you’re trying to build muscle or lose weight, Betaine Monohydrate is one of the most effective supplements to use. This is due to the fact that betaine supports protein and carb metabolism, allowing your body to utilize more of the nutrients that you eat.

Aside from working with the body to burn stored fat, betaine also helps your liver to break down and dispose of toxins. This can be particularly helpful if you have an underlying condition like diabetes, obesity or alcoholic liver disease.

Betaine also helps your body to naturally reduce and regulate homocysteine levels, a potentially toxic compound that can be found in meats. This can be beneficial to your health in several ways, including reducing the risk of heart disease.

A 2013 study published in the Journal of International Society of Sports Nutrition looked at the effects of betaine on exercise performance and body composition, showing that betaine increased strength, endurance and fat loss. This was especially true in male test subjects who had been training for at least 5 years.

Sources

Betaine is a choline metabolite that occurs naturally in many foods, such as wheat, spinach, shellfish, and sugar beets. Betaine has a number of important benefits, including improving liver function and cellular reproduction, helping make carnitine, and supporting methylation, which is important for protein function and other important physiologic functions.

It also helps the body metabolize an amino acid called homocysteine, which can cause heart disease and other health problems. It is commonly taken for these conditions, but is also used in general health and to support athletic performance.

Betaine is found primarily in the bran and germ of whole grains, especially wheat. The level of betaine in refined grain products varies significantly depending on the method of processing. It was estimated that betaine content in whole grain flours and products was two to four times higher than the equivalent refined counterparts.

Dosage

Betaine Monohydrate is a nutrient that comes in powder form and can be taken by mouth. It's used to reduce plasma homocysteine levels in people with a condition called homocystinuria.

It's also used to help people with a condition called Rett syndrome, which is an abnormality of the nervous system. It's used in combination with folate to reduce the symptoms of Rett syndrome.

Dosage is based on age, weight and health conditions. Most adults who are healthy need between 650-2,000 milligrams of betaine per day.

Those who have heart or liver disease can't take betaine without the help of a doctor. Taking betaine can increase blood pressure and cause side effects.

Betaine is a methyl donor that helps with cellular hydration and other important chemical processes in the body. It's similar to choline, folic acid and vitamin B12. Betaine can be found naturally in many foods such as spinach and other vegetables. It's also available as a supplement.

Side Effects

Betaine monohydrate is a good supplement for those who need to help their bodies absorb nutrients and digest food. It can also help improve muscle gain and fat loss if used alongside an exercise program.

Those who have low stomach acid may also benefit from betaine, especially those who are older, take medications for peptic ulcers or have autoimmune disease. Taking betaine prior to meals can help increase the stomach's acidity and allow it to break down and process foods.

It can also be taken to prevent homocystinuria, a condition where the body doesn't break down an amino acid called homocysteine. Betaine can add a molecule (methyl group) to homocysteine and change it to another amino acid called methionine.

Betaine can also help protect the liver against toxins like alcohol, allowing it to function more effectively. It can also decrease fatty buildup in the liver and prevent it from forming a condition known as steatosis.