BETAINE HCL, USP
Nutritional/Medical Benefits
Betaine hydrochloride is an acidic form of betaine, a vitamin-like substance found in grains and other foods. Doctors recommend betaine hydrochloride as a supplemental source of hydrochloric acid for people who have a deficiency of stomach acid production (hypochlorhydria), a condition more common as we get older. A deficiency of gastric acid secretion increases the likelihood and severity of certain bacterial and parasitic intestinal infections.
Betaine (trimethylglycine) functions very closely with choline, folic acid, vitamin B12 and a form of the amino acid methionine known as S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe). All of these compounds function as "methyl donors." They carry and donate methyl molecules to facilitate necessary chemical processes. The donation of methyl groups by betaine is very important to proper liver function, cellular replication, and detoxification reactions.
Betaine also plays a role in the manufacture of carnitine and serves to protect the kidneys from damage.
Betaine has been reported to play a role in reducing blood levels of homocysteine, a toxic breakdown product of amino-acid metabolism that is believed to promote arteriosclerosis and osteoporosis.
Betaine is often referred to as a "lipotropic factor" because of its ability to help the liver process fats (lipids). Betaine supplementation has been shown to protect against chemical damage to the liver. The first stage of liver damage that results from drinking alcohol is the accumulation of fat in the liver (alcohol-induced fatty liver disease). Betaine, because of its lipotropic effects, has been shown to produce significant improvements in this condition in several human clinical studies.
Betaine has also been shown to be helpful in certain rare genetic disorders involving cysteine metabolism.
Betaine Applications
Betaine is ideally suited for nearly all food and nutritional supplement delivery systems. With the use of Balchem’s unique microencapsulation technology, applications for betaine can be greatly expanded to overcome the most severe formulation and manufacturing challenges.
Betaine Features
Betaine is considered GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) by the US FDA. Manufactured to meet strict USP standards, it is Kosher Pareve and Halal certified. Betaine is guaranteed to be BSE-free and not to be genetically modified, as it is produced by a synthetic process using no biological or genetically modified materials.
