What is betaine?

What is betaine is a question asked by very few people; only organic chemists and those concerned about the breakdown of a toxic compound called homocysteine formed from protein-metabolism would be interested.

It s a very important subject though since a poor diet is the cause of raised homocysteine; and it lies at the centre of big conditions like heart failure and Alzheimer's disease. Are you eating your greens?

Those with hepatic disease who may be facing a liver transplant should also take note.

For the structure of betaine I recommend looking at a biochemistry textbook or google it.

But if you want to improve your sense of well-being, make sure you are enjoying foods like beetroot regularly; even if you have no interest in knowing the reason why betaine is so important.

The richest sources are beets, spinach and 100% wholewheat; seafood too. If you are not eating at least one of these on a regular basis, poor health lies ahead.

Disclaimer

The complete absence of 100 percent real flour from supermarket-shelves is probably the chief reason for a betaine deficiency; and the attendant dementia, cardiovascular and liver cirrhosis. It is sobering that 11% of Americans over the age of 65 are showing signs of Alzheimer's Disease.

This page was last updated by Bernard Preston on 1st June, 2026.

Betaines are located in plant cells to prevent excessive water-loss. But their real importance to those concerned about having more energy and wellness, is their ability to donate methyl groups.

"Methylation" as it is known, is essential in human-metabolism and the common beetroot is an excellent source of betaine; so is true wholemeal flour.

It is increasingly being understood that it is a vital nutrient; and a deficiency is one of the chief causes of chronic-disease in many different systems in the body.

Because a shortage of betaine raises the level of toxic homocysteine in the blood, it is one of the chief underlying causes of damage to capillaries; and hence the effect on the heart, brain and liver. In fact it's needed by all the organs of the body.

Methionine is an "essential" amino acid

Betaine plays a vital part in the breakdown of an important essential amino-acid called methionine which is found in many foods such as meat, dairy and fish; we cannot thrive without it. A deficiency is one of the chief causes of the permanent stunting of children.

• Stunting of children
  

Whole grains, nuts and seeds are the chief sources of this protein for vegans; there's not much in legumes.

This methionine cycle occurs mainly in the liver and kidneys.

Without adequate methylation using betaine, levels of homocysteine rise causing improper lipid-metabolism.

This leads to fatty pancreas and liver, real killers; and a host of blood vessel related diseases like stroke and heart attack, all connected to poor-circulation. Add smoking to the equation and both arteries and veins will be in serious trouble.

• Foods for a healthy pancreas
  

Betaine is the source of methyl-groups in many biochemical processes in the body.

What is betaine?

What is betaine? It was originally isolated in sugar-beets, hence its name. It is a group of compounds involved in a very important reaction in the human body called methylation.

Likewise it's vital for other mammals and has been used in animal-feed for over half a century. For example in the poultry and pork industry it is added to reduce ugly and excessive body fat, especially in the internal organs^[9]; it can do the same for us.

• Influence of excessive carbohydrate consumption on pancreatic function
  

The betaine in grains is chiefly found in 100% wholemeal but not in refined flour^[2]; in the germ and bran. To enjoy it you first have to learn about storing wheat.

Beets, spinach and sea foods are the other good sources.

Over-consumption of methionine

Methionine is an essential amino acid; we cannot thrive without it. However over-consumption from a diet too high in meat and dairy is also associated with the growth of malignant tumours^[5].

A methionine-restricted diet has been reported to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Becoming a vegan may be beneficial in that regard but creates other issues.

Another strategy is to ensure a diet rich in betaines and choline to ensure the proper methylation of the amino acid.

TMG is a typical betaine; it consists of an amino acid called glycine with three methyl groups (CH₃) than can acts as donors.

The big fat milling lie

There is a monumental lie in milling; they are allowed to label flour as "wholemeal" provided they do not extract more than than 40% of the grain; the germ and bran where the betaine is found. It comes as no surprise that heart-disease and stroke are by far the most common causes of death according to the WHO^[1]; and rising fast.

Nature's own anticoagulant, vitamin E also comes into the equation; the germ and bran of true wholemeal flour are the best sources.

So you see understanding what is betaine and all these questions about whole grains is not unimportant.

Choline

Betaine is also a breakdown product of the vitamin-like substance known as choline; but the traditional grocery store mix of foods contains 50 percent or less of this important nutrient.

So we are likely not getting sufficient betaine from our meals; the prevalence of cerebrovascular diseases is climbing ever upwards.

Choline too is found mostly in 100% wholewheat, rarely eaten except as bulgur in the West; and in eggs, legumes and green leafy vegetables.

Vegans not getting true whole grains or eggs are at risk.

Try and purchase true wholemeal flour and you will know what I mean; you are unlikely to find anywhere. Because of its fat content it has a limited shelf life.

Here you can find more information about choline food sources.

Choline is used in at least three ways in the body.

1. To form betaine.
2. For the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.
3. For phospholipids in cell membranes.
   

Adequate choline in addition to betaine is obviously vital for optimal-wellness.

Homocysteine

So betaine whether obtained directly from our food or from choline metabolism, has the vital function of methylating toxic homocysteine and converting it back to methionine; and on to an important compound called SAMe. This also occurs via another cycle requiring folate and B12 as a secondary pathway.

But both pathways require adequate amounts of folate, choline and B12. These vitamins are essential for detoxifying homocysteine, the cause of heart conditions, stroke and Alzheimer's disease; and many other illnesses.

And because these processes occur mainly in the liver, that is where fat is deposited in the event of a deficiency of betaine or these B vitamins.

Fatty liver is a serious disease, undermining the rest of the health of our capillaries by distorting blood lipids and is associated with raised glucose.

• 4x4 interval training for fatty liver disease

Ironically this fatty hepatic condition is not caused by too much dietary lipid so it has a new name; metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. Ultra-refined wheatflour products are the curse; the double wammy of no betaine and excessive carbs causing blood glucose surges.

Insufficient betaine from our food results in a swollen liver with dysfunction and poor control of blood sugar; the organ should be able to suck up excess glucose and turn it into triglycerides but is unable to do so. And so the bad LDL-cholesterol is raised; that means statins.

Ironically recommendations now are for more eggs to provide choline which breaks down to betaine for improved liver function and a better lipid profile; 100 percent wholewheat too which is only rarely eaten by humans. Dark-green leafy vegetables like spinach and beet tops should regularly be on the menu, even daily.

Folk often complain they simply do not have the time to commit to a wellness way of eating; my response is that they will spend a hundred times as many hours consulting doctors and pharmacists instead.

Start by potting in the spring garden; plant some beets.

• Eggs Florentine
  

The "take home" from this page is the importance of foods like beets, spinach and eggs; and 100% wholemeal bread. What is betaine is a very significant subject.

Look for our bread pages in the navigation bar; it takes only five minutes each day to bake an artisan loaf from freshly-ground wholemeal. I confess it; I'm crazy about real food that tastes good and can be prepared in a jiffy.

But you may have to purchase a mill to get the flour.

• The special plant nutrients in wheat
  

Free range eggs actually lower the risk of heart disease because of the betaine they provide; via choline.

Betaine and chronic kidney disease

As stated above the "methionine cycle" not only occurs in the liver but also the kidneys.

Low betaine levels are also linked to increased kidney damage, inflammation and oxidative stress^[10] for all the same reasons.

Eggs Parkinson's disease

Eggs Florentine on wholegrain toast makes an excellent breakfast but is perhaps a little dull tasting. Adding legumes such as fava beans, limas or even green peas provides yet more choline.

Fava beans also have the unique property of containing pharmaceutical amounts of L-dopa, the neurotransmitter that is lost in Parkinson's Disease; it is also a powerful antioxidant.

• Eggs Parkinson's disease

Why is betaine? It's an essential compound for human health.

From the journals

From the horse's mouth

---

Newsletter

Our newsletter is entitled "create a cyan zone" at your home, preserving both yourself and Mother Earth for future generations; and the family too, of course. We promise not to spam you with daily emails promoting various products. You may get an occasional nudge to buy one of my books.

Here are the back issues.

Did you find this page interesting? How about forwarding it to a friendly book or food junkie? Better still, a social media tick would help.

Address:

56 Groenekloof Rd,

Hilton, KZN

South Africa

Website:

https://www.bernard-preston.com

Create a Cyan Zone at your home; one which complements blue areas for longevity with green for protecting Mother Earth.