Betaine is ubiquitous in animals, and beet is the plant with the most betaine. In recent years, more and more attention has been paid to the application of betaine in the livestock and poultry industry. This is because betaine can provide active methyl groups in the metabolism of living organisms, form methyltransferase with cysteine, and participate in methyl reactions, so it is called "life methylating agent". In addition, choline chloride and methionine also have the function of providing active methyl groups. However, as a non-toxic, non-polluting and non-residue new type of nutrient redistribution agent, betaine overcomes a series of drawbacks such as high stress, serious residue, and decreased meat quality caused by nutrient redistribution agents such as β-adrenergic agonists. .

Chemical structure and physicochemical properties of betaine

1 Chemical structure and physical and chemical properties

The chemical name of betaine is trimethylglycine, which is a quaternary ammonia alkaloid with molecular formula C5H12NO2 and molecular weight of 117.5. Its molecular structure has two characteristics: one is that the distribution of electric charge in the molecule is neutral; the other is that it has three activities methyl. Its appearance is fluid, slightly brown crystalline powder, sweet in taste, easy to absorb moisture, soluble in water and alcohol, neutral in aqueous solution, with a melting point of 293 °C, can withstand high temperatures below 200 °C, and has strong antioxidant properties. In addition, betaine also has moisturizing properties.

Mechanism of nutritional and physiological action of betaine

1 Provide the body with efficient active methyl

After years of research, it has been found that betaine, as an intermediate metabolite in animals, indirectly participates in animal protein and fat metabolism. From the perspective of its physiological mechanism of action, betaine indirectly participates in many physiological metabolic processes in the body by providing methyl groups and synthesizing various nutrients. Methyl is a necessary group for the synthesis of proteins, carnitine, creatine, phospholipids, epinephrine, ribonucleic acid and deoxyribonucleic acid and many other substances with important physiological activities in the animal body, and one of the main methyl donors in the animal body. Choline cannot provide methyl groups, and it needs to be converted into betaine by cell mitochondria before it has the ability to provide methyl groups and synthesize lipoproteins, amino acids and other substances. Therefore, when the supply of choline in the feed is insufficient, some betaine is added. Replaces the role of choline. Appropriate supplementation of betaine in the diet can replace the other main methyl donor - methionine for methylation, thereby saving methionine and improving protein utilization. The ability of betaine to provide methyl can also promote the synthesis of carnitine in animals and improve the intensity of fat metabolism.

2 Inhibit fat deposition, improve meat yield and meat quality

Early studies have shown that betaine has a certain anti-fat effect. Adding betaine to the diet will reduce body fat and increase protein content in growing chickens. Betaine can provide methyl group to methylaminoethanol to generate choline, and choline plays an important role in ester metabolism, thereby promoting fatty acid oxidation and phospholipid production, and improving the operating speed of esters. Synthesis, on the one hand, reduces the activity of lipase in the liver; The migration of fat in the liver, thereby reducing the content of triglycerides in the liver.
3 Involved in amino acid and protein metabolism

Betaine is closely related to the metabolism of methionine. On the one hand, betaine reduces the consumption of methionine by providing methyl groups; on the other hand, betaine increases the activity of homocysteine-S-methyltransferase and promotes The conversion of homocysteine ​​has the effect of net increase of methionine. According to research, betaine can significantly increase the crude protein content and RNA/DNA ratio in animal liver and muscle, while the serum uric acid content significantly decreases, which shows that betaine promotes protein synthesis in the body, reduces protein decomposition, and makes tissue The mechanism of increased protein deposition may be that betaine accelerates the process of RNA processing and modification by enhancing the body's methyl metabolism.

4 As a substance to adjust osmotic pressure

Betaine has a buffering effect on the shock of osmotic pressure. When the external osmotic pressure changes dramatically, betaine can be absorbed by cells to maintain normal osmotic pressure balance, while preventing the loss of water in cells and the invasion of salts. Diarrhea in piglets or coccidiosis in poultry often results in dehydration and intestinal ionic and osmotic imbalances in animals. At this time, the body's demand for methyl groups increases, so the body needs methylation at this time to establish an immune defense mechanism. In addition, betaine can effectively prevent water loss by improving the function of cell membrane Na/K pump, prevent hyperkalemia caused by diarrhea, and play a very important role in maintaining and stabilizing animal intestinal ion balance and function.

5 Has anti-due and immunity-boosting effects

Betaine has obvious sedative effect, enhances the hypnotic effect and anti-nociceptive stimulation and antipyretic effect of barbiturate. Chickens are very susceptible to coccidiosis, which affects intestinal ion balance. Although anticoccidial drugs can change the ion concentration of parasite cells to kill parasites, they also affect host cells, especially the intestinal ion concentration, which affects the intestinal tract. normal function. Betaine provides methyl as a cell osmotic protective agent, which can maintain the normal osmotic pressure of animal cells, prevent dehydration caused by water loss in cells, and stabilize intestinal ion balance. Thereby improving the resistance of the chicken body.

6 Neuroendocrine effects

The study found that betaine can significantly increase the level of growth hormone in the serum of finishing pigs. By increasing the methyl group, betaine contributes to the conversion of radon acid to N-methyl-radon acid (NMDA) receptors. In this way, betaine enhances the endocrine function of the hypothalamus by activating the NMDA receptors in the hypothalamus, thereby promoting the release of hypothalamic hormones. Hypothalamic hormones also act on the pituitary adenylate cyclase-cAMP-protein kinase system to promote the release of GH, FSH and LH hormones from the pituitary.

7 Stabilization of vitamins in feed

Vitamins have poor stability and are easily affected by light, heat and humidity, and will be gradually lost over time. Especially in the process of feed processing, storage and transportation, most vitamins are more or less in titer. In addition, choline chloride is often the main reason for the destruction of vitamins due to its high water absorption and strong acidity. Betaine has strong moisturizing properties, can enhance the stability of vitamins, prevent the oxidation of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, and protect their potency. Studies have shown that betaine and choline chloride were tested for vitamin stability in chicken premixes, and it was found that betaine could improve the stability of vitamins A, K3, B1, and B6 during storage at 20-25 °C. It was found that the higher the temperature, the stronger the effect of betaine. It is a more economical and practical method to successfully replace all the choline in the diet with betaine.