b20519ec93939617_beets

Trimethylglycine (TMG) Betaine

Usually, betaines are zwitterions. A zwitterion is a chemical compound that has formal positive and negative charges on different atoms but is, over all, neutral. In compounds such as these, the cationic and anionic functional groups oppose each other and cancel each other out. While different ends of the compound have distinct and different charges, the overall result is a completely neutral compound.

In many biological systems, betaines function as osmolytes, substances that affect osmosis. Betaines are usually produced or synthesized by cells, and they serve to protect against the various cellular stresses associated with osmosis. The protective actions of betaines primarily function to prevent cellular dehydration.

Increasingly, scientists are recognizing the significance of betaines as methyl donors. Methyl molecules are important aids to many biological and chemical processes in the body. Betaines, through donating methyl to bodily processes, aid liver function, cellular reproduction, and several other important processes throughout the body. They are also believed to be effective in the prevention of heart and liver disease, and can be found in beets, broccoli, grains, shellfish, and spinach. Betaine supplements are also produced from sugar beets and are available in a variety of forms.

 

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