Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 10, 2026

Assessing Whole-Body Lipid-Handling Capacity in Mice
Published on: November 24, 2020
Betaine supplementation and blood lipids: fact or artifact?
1Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health and School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. steven_zeisel@unc.edu
Abstract:
Betaine supplementation in humans has been shown to lower plasma homocysteine concentrations in modestly hyperhomocysteinemic patients. Betaine treatment is associated with increased plasma low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, suggesting that although betaine supplementation lowers homocysteine, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, changes in blood lipids may have a counterbalancing effect. However, whether the betaine effect on LDL concentration is a clinically significant problem that should change treatment options or is simply an artifact needs further study.
Related Concept Videos
Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System III: Serum Lipid Profile
Serum lipids are fats and fatty substances in the blood and are crucial for various bodily functions, including energy storage, cellular structure, and hormone production. Serum lipids consist of cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids.
Cholesterol is a soft, fat-like substance found in all body cells. It is crucial for producing hormones, vitamin D, and substances that aid...
Lipid-Lowering Drugs: Statins and Miscellaneous Agents
Overview of Lipid Metabolism
Lipolysis: The Breakdown of Lipids:
Lipolysis is the process of breaking down lipids, particularly triglycerides, into glycerol and fatty acids. This process typically occurs in the adipose tissue and is triggered by various hormones, including glucagon and...
Lipids: Dietary Sources and Requirements
Cholesterol: Significance and Regulation
Considering cholesterol and...