Purpose of review: This narrative review aimed to explore the functions of betaine and discuss its role in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Recent findings: Some studies on CKD animal models have shown the benefits of betaine supplementation, including decreased kidney damage, antioxidant recovery status, and decreased inflammation. Betaine (N-trimethylglycine) is an N-trimethylated amino acid with an essential regulatory osmotic function. Moreover, it is a methyl donor and has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Additionally, betaine has positive effects on intestinal health by regulating the osmolality and gut microbiota. Due to these crucial functions, betaine has been studied in several diseases, including CKD, in which betaine plasma levels decline with the progression of the disease. Low betaine levels are linked to increased kidney damage, inflammation, oxidative stress, and intestinal dysbiosis. Furthermore, betaine is considered an essential metabolite for identifying CKD stages.
Keywords: Betaine; Chronic kidney disease; Inflammation; Methyl donor; Oxidative stress.
© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.