guest ::
| Home > Publications Database > Betaine in the brain |
| Contribution to a book | DZNE-2020-00300 |
2014
Nova Science Publishers Inc
Hauppauge, NY
Abstract: Elevated levels of plasma homocysteine have been negatively linked to the development of cardiovascular disease, impaired neurologicalfunction and most recently to neurodegenerative diseases. Homocystinuria, an in born error of metabolism results in significantly high levels of plasma homocysteine. Choline, along with its’ metabolite betaine can lower levels of plasma homocysteine by remethylating it back to methionine with the aid of the enzyme betaine homocysteine Smethyltransferase (BHMT). Folates can also methylate homocysteine to methionine. Mice with genetic deficiencies in methylenetratrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and methionine synthase reductase (MTRR) enzymes involved in folate and homocysteine metabolism have reduced levels of betaine in brain tissue. Interestingly, when patients suffering from homocystinuria are treated with betaine there is a reversal of most negative symptoms including reducing plasma homocysteine levels, however neurological symptoms still remain. This chapter will discuss interactions of betaine with folate metabolism, implications of reduced betaine levels in brain function and importance of this nutrient in normal and disease brain function.
|
The record appears in these collections: |