A Comparison of Choline, Betaine and Dimethyl-Aminoethanol in the Prevention of the Hepatico-Renal Syndrome

Abstract

Betaine supplementation of low fat diets containing casein, lactalbumin or soy protein was substantially as effective as the same amt. of choline in promoting growth in young rats, in the prevention of hemorrhagic degeneration of the kidneys, and in maintaining normal kidney functions; betaine exerted distinctly less lipotropic action. The amt. of choline in the liver lipids of animals receiving choline and betaine supplements was substantially the same, averaging about 0.16%. Dimethylaminoethanol as a supplement to a diet containing lactalbumin showed a marked lipotropic action substantially equal to that of choline. A mixture of be-taines, consisting largely of betaines other than those of glycine, alanine and cystine, prepared by the methylation of the amino acids derived from lactalbumin, was of no value in preventing the hepatico-renal syndrome resulting from choline deficiency. Choline or betaine supplements are seemingly less essential for mature rats than for young animals. Choline impoverishment of the dietary of mature animals was reflected by an increase in the % of fat in the liver, but the effect on kidney function was not as great as occurs in young animals. Glycine supplementation of the diet of young rats did not prevent the characteristic renal syndrome resulting from choline deficiency.