Betaine is widely distributed in plants and animals and has a role as an osmolyte and as a cofactor in methylation in liver metabolism. It has been shown to protect internal organs, improve vascular risk factors and enhance performance. The growing body of evidence shows that betaine is an important nutrient for the prevention of chronic disease. This volume surveys the current state of play in these and other areas of interest, including its role in one-carbon metabolism, tissue biochemistry and interactions with folate and other biomolecules. The analysis of betaines using different techniques is covered, as is the function and effects in the body.

Betaine in Context; Betaine in Sugar Beet; Betaine in Food Plants: A Focus on Synthesis and Content; The Chemistry of Betaine; Chemical Interactions of Betaine with Folate and Other Biomolecules; Betaine Uptake with a Focus on the Betaine/GABA Transporter; Betaine-Homocysteine S-Methyltransferase; Assays of Betaines using 1H NMR Spectroscopy; Assays of Betaines using 1H NMR Spectroscopy; Determination of Betaines in Vegetable Oils by Capillary Electrophoresis-Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry; Hydrophilic Interaction Liquid Chromatography for Determination of Betaine; Characterization of Betaine from Seeds; Occurrence and Analysis of Betaines in Fruits; Betaine and Metabolic Stress in Different Tissues; Beneficial Effects of Betaine on Water-immersion Restraint Stress-induced Memory Impairment in Mice; Serum Betaine Concentrations and the Effects of Bariatric Surgery; Folate and Betaine Interactions during Pregnancy; Multiple Roles of Betaine in Protecting Against Alcohol-induced Liver Injury; Betaine, DNA methylation and Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; The Beneficial Role of Dietary Betaine in the Suppression of Age-related inflammatory NF-¿B; Betaine in Athletic Performance and Body Composition; Betaine, Osmoprotection, and Health of the Ocular Surface in Dry Eye Disease; Betaine and Choline and Cancer; Subject Index