Lipotropic capacity of raw plant-based foods: A new index that reflects their lipotrope density profile

Among all of the phytomicronutrients, lipotropes which limit excess hepatic fat deposits, have been very little studied. And yet, liver steatosis is common to several chronic diseases. Among the lipotropes, betaine, choline, myo-inositol, methionine, magnesium, niacin, pantothenic acid and folates were the ones for which sufficient data have possibly been found to allow the selection of a significant number of plant-based foods (PBFs). Our objectives were to unravel the differences or similarities in the lipotrope density (LD) profile of raw PBFs and to define an index reflecting lipotrope contents. From databases for betaine and choline contents, we selected 56 raw PBFs (38 when inositol content was taken into consideration). Lipotropic capacity (LC) was defined as the means of the 8 LD profiles, each expressed as a percentage of raw asparagus LD, which has the highest mean ranking for the 8 LDs (LC = 100). LCs ranged from 7 (grapes) to 672% (spinach), relative to asparagus LC. Among cereal, fruit, legume and seed groups, quinoa, blackberry, common bean and sesame seed had the highest levels of LC (155%, 107%, 36% and 26%, respectively). On a 100 kcal-basis, vegetables are the best sources of lipotropes, followed by cereals, fruits and legumes, then nuts and seeds. PBF LD profiles were complementary but more diversified compared to animal-based food LD profiles.     

Expression of aldose reductase, sorbitol dehydrogenase and Na+/myo-inositol and Na+/Cl–/betaine transporter mRNAs in individual cells of the kidney during changes in the diuretic state

 The effect of changes in medullary extracellular tonicity on mRNA expression for aldose reductase (AR), sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH), Na⁺/Cl^–/betaine (BGT) and Na⁺/myo-inositol (SMIT) cotransporter in different kidney zones was studied using Northern blot analysis and non-radioactive in situ hybridization in four groups of rats: controls, acute diuresis (the loop diuretic furosemide was administered), chronic diuresis (5 days of diuresis), and antidiuresis [5 days of diuresis followed by 24 h deamino-Cys¹,d-Arg⁸ vasopressin (dDAVP)]. Acute administration of the loop diuretic furosemide significantly reduced AR, SMIT and BGT gene expression in the inner and outer medulla compared with controls. Administration of dDAVP to chronically diuretic rats raised the expression of these three mRNAs in the inner but not the outer medulla compared with the chronically diuretic rats. None of these alterations in medullary tonicity significantly changed SDH expression. The in situ hybridization studies showed AR, BGT and SMIT mRNAs to be expressed in both epithelial and non-epithelial cells of the outer and inner medulla. The various cell types (epithelial, endothelial and interstitial cells) differed in their expression pattern and intensity of AR, SDH, BGT and SMIT mRNA, but the inner medullary cells responded uniformly to a decrease in extracellular tonicity with a reduction, and to an increase with enhancement of their AR, BGT and SMIT expression. Received: 26 May 1998 / Accepted: 14 September 1998     

LC-MS／MS法测定心脑欣丸中甜菜碱的含量

目的建立心脑欣丸中甜菜碱的含量测定方法。方法采用LC—MS／MS法测定甜菜碱的含量,以电喷雾离子源（ESI）正离子模式将样品离子化,多反应监测（MRM）模式下对甜菜碱（m／z 118．20→57．92和118．20→59．00）进行测定。色谱柱为Venusil HILIC（100mm×2．1mm×3μm）,流动相为乙腈-水（80：20）,流速0.3mL·min^-1。结果甜菜碱浓度在4．44～177．6ng·mL^-1线性关系良好（r=0．9999）,平均回收率为99．4％,RSD为1．5％（n=6）。结论该方法简便、可靠、准确,可作为心脑欣丸中甜菜碱的含量测定方法。     

Elevated dimethylglycine in blood of children with congenital heart defects and their mothers

Objective

Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) may be related to nutritional deficiencies affecting the methylation cycle. We aimed to study the metabolic markers of the betaine homocysteine methyl transferase (BHMT) pathway in children with CHD and their mothers compared to children without CHD and their mothers.

Materials and Methods

Children with CHD (n = 105, age < 3 years) and mothers of 80 of the affected children were studied. The controls were non-CHDs children of comparable age as the CHD group (n = 52) and their mothers (n = 50). We measured serum or plasma concentrations of the metabolites of the methylation cycle homocysteine (HCY), methylmalonic acid (MMA), cystathionine, S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), betaine, choline, and dimethylglycine (DMG).

Results

Children with CHD had higher plasma SAM (131 vs. 100 nmol/L) and DMG (8.7 vs. 6.0 μmol/L) and lower betaine/DMG ratio (7.5 vs. 10.2) compared to the controls. Mothers of CHD children showed also higher DMG (6.1 vs. 4.1 µmol/L) and lower betaine/DMG ratio compared with the mothers of the controls. Higher SAM levels were related to higher cystathionine, MMA, betaine, choline, and DMG. MMA elevation in the patients was related to higher HCY, SAM, betaine and DMG.

Conclusions

Elevated DMG in CHD children and their mothers compared to the controls can indicate upregulation of the BHMT pathway in this disease group. Nutritional factors are related to metabolic imbalance during pregnancy that may be related to worse birth outcome.     

Alleviation of alcoholic liver injury by betaine involves an enhancement of antioxidant defense via regulation of sulfur amino acid metabolism

Previous studies suggested that the hepatoprotective activity of betaine is associated with its effects on sulfur amino acid metabolism. We examined the mechanism by which betaine prevents the progression of alcoholic liver injury and its therapeutic potential. Rats received a liquid ethanol diet for 6 wk. Ethanol consumption elevated serum triglyceride and TNFα levels, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities, and lipid accumulation in liver. The oxyradical scavenging capacity of liver was reduced, and expression of CD14, TNFα, COX-2, and iNOS mRNAs was induced markedly. These ethanol-induced changes were all inhibited effectively by betaine supplementation. Hepatic S-adenosylmethionine, cysteine, and glutathione levels, reduced in the ethanol-fed rats, were increased by betaine supplementation. Methionine adenosyltransferase and cystathionine γ-lyase were induced, but cysteine dioxygenase was down-regulated, which appeared to account for the increment in cysteine availability for glutathione synthesis in the rats supplemented with betaine. Betaine supplementation for the final 2 wk of ethanol intake resulted in a similar degree of hepatoprotection, revealing its potential therapeutic value in alcoholic liver. It is concluded that the protective effects of betaine against alcoholic liver injury may be attributed to the fortification of antioxidant defense via improvement of impaired sulfur amino acid metabolism.     

甜菜碱对肝纤维化大鼠肺组织氧化应激的影响

目的：观察甜菜碱对肝纤维化大鼠肺组织氧化应激的影响。方法：复合致病因素诱导复制肝纤维化大鼠模型,给予甜菜碱[500 mg/（kg·d）]进行干预。4周末,测定大鼠血浆内毒素、白蛋白、总胆固醇、甘油三酯、透明质酸含量及碱性磷酸酶活性;观察肝组织及肺组织的病理学改变;检测肺组织匀浆中TNF-α、ONOO-、NO、MDA的变化。结果：肝纤维化组动物血浆内毒素、白蛋白、总胆固醇、甘油三酯、透明质酸含量明显增高、碱性磷酸酶活性增加,肺组织 TNF-α、NO、ONOO-、MDA 含量均升高;给予甜菜碱后大鼠血浆内毒素及其余各项指标水平均降低,肺组织中 TNF-α、ONOO-、NO、MDA明显降低,尤以TNF-α和MDA的变化更为显著,肺组织的病理学改变也减轻。结论：（1）肝损伤及肝纤维化可导致肺部损伤。（2）甜菜碱可能通过某种机制降低肠源性内毒素水平,进而降低炎性因子水平、减轻肺组织的氧化应激反应,减轻肺损伤。     

Provocative use tests in CAPB-allergic subjects with CAPB-containing product

Cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) has been identified as a cause of contact allergy in personal care products. Furthermore, it has been suggested that chemicals responsible are impurities, especially dimethylaminopropylamine (DMAPA). However, skin contact concentrations with these impurities, especially DMAPA, are very low. The aim of the study was to analyse whether subjects with previous positive patch tests to CAPB would react in provocative use tests of a product containing CAPB. 10 individuals with a clinical history of contact allergy to CAPB (by positive patch test and history) took part in a ROAT which used a CAPB-based shower gel at 25% (DMAPA concentration < 1 ppm). None of the subjects showed positive allergic reactions. 1 of the test subjects did experience a flare of atopic dermatitis at the treatment site. Later, all 10 subjects were patch tested to 3 different concentrations of CAPB and DMAPA (0.1%, 0.3%, 1%) to verify the threshold that was capable of inducing a positive test reaction. 5/10 showed clear + reactions to 1% CAPB (typically at D3), whilst a further 3 gave marginal and/or irritant reactions. Only 1 of the subjects showed an allergic reaction to DMAPA. Finally, in uncontrolled use testing with the shower gel, none of the test subjects reported any adverse skin reactions. Thus, the study confirmed that CAPB-sensitive individuals can use a CAPB-based rinse-off product without the risk of experiencing an allergic reaction to CAPB.