Abstract
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.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 292-298 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Food and Chemical Toxicology |
Volume | 62 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2013 Dec |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This work was supported by National Research Foundation (NRF) grants (Nos. 2011-0016781 and 2009-0083533) funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST), Korea. The authors have no financial or other conflicts of interest to disclose.
Keywords
- Alcoholic liver injury
- Betaine
- Glutathione
- Oxidative stress
- S-adenosylmethionine
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Food Science
- Toxicology