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Nutrient Physiology, Metabolism, and Nutrient-Nutrient Interactions

Elevated Tissue Betaine Contents in Developing Rats Are Due to Dietary Betaine, Not to Synthesis^1,2

Department of Biochemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, A1B 3X9, Canada

The time course of betaine accumulation and activities of enzymes involved in betaine metabolism were studied in developing rats. In study 1, pups weaned on a nonpurified diet had a transient increase in liver and kidney betaine content followed by a decline after 42–56 d. In study 2, dams and, following weaning, pups were fed an AIN-93G (betaine-free) or an AIN-93G betaine-supplemented diet (0.3%) to determine the source of the transient increase in betaine levels previously observed. In study 2, only rats fed betaine had an increase in plasma betaine concentration. Similarly, liver and kidney betaine contents increased postweaning; however, betaine levels returned to that found in rats fed a betaine-free diet by 49 d of age. The dietary content of betaine fed to dams did not affect pup betaine. The activities of choline dehydrogenase, an enzyme of betaine synthesis, and betaine:homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT), which is the only known betaine-consuming enzyme in mammals, were also measured in study 2. Liver BHMT activity decreased after weaning, whereas liver and kidney choline dehydrogenase activity increased with age, possibly reaching a plateau by 42 d of age. We conclude that the transient increase in betaine reflects high dietary betaine and not a change in endogenous betaine synthesis.

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: jbrosnan{at}mun.ca.

Manuscript received 21 April 2008. Initial review completed 27 May 2008. Revision accepted 8 July 2008.