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MSM

Health News Archive 205 - Homocysteine Levels
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Betaine Reduces Homocysteine Levels

In an article published in the January 2006 edition of the journal Nutrition, researchers from Finland reported on a study examining the effects of betaine (trimethylglycine) and homocysteine metabolism.

In the study, ten healthy men and women between the ages of 28 and 53 were given single doses of one, three and six grams of betaine. Results showed that single doses of the three and six grams of betaine lowered plasma homocysteine levels to a statistically significant degree. Individuals given the six gram dose continued to have a decrease in homocysteine concentration during the 24-hour monitoring period after the dose.

It was concluded that a single dose of orally administered betaine had an acute and dose-dependent effect that resulted in lower homocysteine concentrations within two hours in healthy subjects.

Source: Ursula Schwab, Anneli Törrönen, Esa Meririnne, Markku Saarinen, Georg Alfthan, Antti Aro, and Matti Uusitupa. Orally Administered Betaine Has an Acute and Dose-Dependent Effect on Serum Betaine and Plasma Homocysteine Concentrations in Healthy Humans . J. Nutr. 2006; 136: 34-38.