Short term & long term
As reported in a recent issue of the Journal of Nutrition, researchers at Wageningen University in the Netherlands enrolled 76 subjects who were divided into four groups of 19 subjects each. For six weeks, one group received 1.5 grams of a betaine supplement daily, another received 3 grams, another received 6 grams, and the fourth group received a placebo. The results were immediate. After just one day, the 1.5-gram group had an average homocysteine level 16 percent lower than the average of the placebo group. In the 6-gram group, the average was a full 35 percent lower than the placebo subjects. At the end of the study period the results were even more impressive. Subjects in the 1.5-group had an average homocysteine level of 23 percent lower than placebo, and in the 6-gram group the average level was 40 percent lower. The Wageningen researchers concluded that these significant drops in homocysteine showed that a betaine-rich diet might lower cardiovascular disease risk. In addition to lowering homocysteine levels, betaine also assists in the processing of fats in the liver. And some studies have shown that betaine may help protect the liver from damage caused by chemicals and excessive alcohol consumption. Dietary sources of betaine include beets, fish and legumes. Supplements of betaine usually comprise sugar beet extract. As we age, homocysteine tends to increase, and this is especially true for postmenopausal women. So it's important to get tested for this key heart disease marker, and then supplement as necessary with folate, vitamins B-6 and B-12, and betaine.(published with permission in writing from:http://www.thehealthierlife.co.uk)
