Betaine – Advantages of Sugar Beet

Betaine, specifically N, N-trimethylglycine, is an organic chemical compound that belongs to the large group of betaine compounds. TMG is a derivative of glycine, the simplest amino acid in the group of 20 standard protein amino acids. This substance is primarily found in sugar beets of the species Beta vulgaris, from which the common name of this compound originates. However, this is not the only source of this plant-based substance, as a significant amount of betaine is also found in most products with a high concentration of choline. These include wheat, spinach, and seafood belonging to the crustaceans. N, N-trimethylglycine can also be synthesized independently by our body. High doses of choline under the influence of choline dehydrogenase and betaine aldehyde, which are present in the liver and kidneys, lead to the production of betaine.

Decades of research on the effects of betaine and its role in the human body confirm its effectiveness in the context of fitness and athletic performance development. Primarily, TMG should be considered a co-substrate in the methylation process. Together with a compound known as SAM (S-adenosylmethionine), it contributes to the methylation process, which pertains to the conversion of chemical compounds within our bodies. In this instance, we are discussing the benefits of sarcosine, which, like the betaine mentioned earlier, is a glycine derivative. The distinction lies in that sarcosine is a constituent of our muscle cells. Although arginine is often cited as the principal substrate for creatine synthesis, studies on betaine's function demonstrate that betaine indeed plays the most crucial role in the production of this highly popular compound. As is known, glycine is the most common and simplest amino acid present in protein molecules. Unfortunately, the form present in proteins is entirely unsuitable for creatine formation. However, its conversion into betaine, and subsequently into the previously mentioned sarcosine, leads to the creation of a ready-to-use 'ATP generator'. However, this form is too complex to leave kidney cells and be transported to muscles. Betaine is responsible for the transformation of its precursor into methylglycine, which is much more easily utilized for bonding with arginine and generating guanidinoacetate. This compound then undergoes a methylation reaction, ultimately resulting in the formation of a fully functional creatine molecule.

Apart from the production of creatine mentioned above, betaine also contributes to another process: anabolism of muscles, which is responsible for mass development and shape improvement. Methylation reactions are also necessary in this respect. It is worth mentioning the synthesis of new muscle proteins, the first stage of which is the initiation at the genetic level, precisely the methylation of RNA. However, this is not the end of the pro-anabolic action of TMG. Another important point of action of betaine is metionization, which is not difficult to foresee that this process will be related to methionine, which is the very beginning of each new protein. Methionine provided to our organism from food is transformed into the form of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), whose main disadvantage is that it is not able to transform back into methionine. The methyl radical of S-adenosylmethionine has a mobile character, which means that it can easily detach, leading to the appearance of harmful homocysteine. Homocysteine is a very dangerous amino acid for the human body, contributing to the development of atherosclerotic changes in the circulatory system and promoting the formation of thrombi. At this point, betaine demonstrates its saving properties, enabling the supplementation of the missing methyl radical, leading to the restoration of SAM. As a result, the higher the level of betaine, the more S-adenosylmethionine, which regulates and effectively reduces the levels of homocysteine.

The logical consequence of the anabolic action of betaine is its anti-catabolic nature. Let's return once again to the methylation reactions that TMG is responsible for. In the human body, there is a specific type of protein called ubiquitin. By binding to protein molecules, this substance leads to their degradation or increases the action of other catabolic enzymes responsible for the degradation process. The effect of ubiquitin is inhibited by the methylation of one of the lysine atoms (Lys-48) present in the anti-anabolic protein molecule. Thanks to a high level of betaine, the methylation processes are more effective, which helps protect our muscular system from catabolism.

Betaine, an amino acid derived from sugar beet, also has application in medicine. Specifically, it is employed in cases of digestive disorders resulting from insufficient and deficient production of hydrochloric acid. The combination of betaine with enzymes such as bromelain or papain enhances digestive processes. Regarding the dosage of TMG, no exact quantities of the amino acid have been determined to be consumed. This is due to the limited number of accurate studies conducted in this field.