Biological role and health benefits of betaine in cereals (review)

The research objective is the analysis of modern scientific literature on the influence of betaine which is a part of grain crops on human health. Betaine which is present in grain crops belongs to the substances promoting the prevention of the number of serious diseases of the man. It is known that betaine carries out some functions in organisms of plants and animals: it is an osmolite, a chaperone, and a methyl group donor. It is established that daily dose of betaine for most of people (in different groups of the population) makes from 100 to 300 mg. Today, it is very likely that violations of betaine metabolism due to increased concentrations of homocysteine in blood plasma are a risk factor for atherosclerotic vascular diseases, as well as the appearance of thrombosis. It is found that aleurone fractions of grain and wheat bran are able to act as a good source of betaine, which has a favorable physiological effect on human beings. More than double increase of betaine content in blood plasma after using both wheat bran and aleurone fractions of grain in comparison with the initial level is shown...