betaiini

Betaiini is the Finnish term for betaine, a naturally occurring organic compound that is a quaternary ammonium salt derived from glycine. Chemically, it is N,N,N-trimethylglycine with the formula C5H11NO2, existing as a zwitterion under physiological conditions. It is highly water-soluble and occurs in various foods, notably sugar beets, spinach, and whole grains. It can be produced industrially by methylation of glycine.

In biology, betaine functions as an osmoprotectant, helping cells balance osmotic pressure in tissues such as the kidney and liver during stress. It also acts as a methyl donor in the methionine cycle via the enzyme betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT), converting homocysteine to methionine, which can influence methylation status and homocysteine levels.

Dietary intake comes from foods such as beets, spinach, and cereals, and it is also available as a dietary supplement. In animal agriculture, betaine is used as a feed additive to improve growth, milk production, and resilience to osmotic stress in high-producing livestock.

In humans, supplementation has been studied for effects on liver function, homocysteine lowering, and metabolic health, with varying results. While betaine is generally recognized as safe at typical dietary levels, high-dose supplements can cause gastrointestinal upset and have been associated with an increased production of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) in some individuals, a metabolite linked in some studies to cardiovascular risk. Overall, betaine, or betaiini, is a well-established osmolyte and methyl donor with wide use in nutrition and agriculture.