Sigma-Aldrich Betaine. From sugar beets, ≥98% (perchloric acid titration), choline metabolite, powder or crystals. 50 g

Betaine is a quaternary ammonium zwitterion, extensively present in animals, plants and microorganisms. It also forms a good dietary source as it is found in wheat, spinach, shellfish and sugar beets. Betaine is a methyl derivative of the amino acid glycine. It is known by different names such as trimethylglycine, glycine betaine, lycine and oxyneurine.[1]

Betaine has been used to study the effects of antioxidants on regrowth from cryopreservation.[2]

Apart from betaine taking part in transmethylation, it acts as an organic osmolyte in protecting cells under stress. This is being significantly observed in plants and microorganisms.[1] Betaine is also known to increase the levels of S-adenosylmethionine and thus this might reduce the effects of hepatic steatosis.[3]

End-product of oxidative metabolism of choline, betaine is a general methyl donor, in particular in a minor pathway of methionine biosynthesis. It is used to treat homocystinuria, which is a defect in the major pathway of methionine biosynthesis.[4]