Plasma betaine concentrations correlate with plasma cortisol but not with C-reactive protein in an elderly population

Low plasma betaine concentrations are a feature of seriously ill patients. Increased dietary betaine intake has been associated with lowered systemic inflammation. We aimed to compare plasma cortisol (a stress marker) and C-reactive protein (an inflammation marker) as statistical predictors of plasma betaine concentrations.

Plasma carnitine, cortisol and C-reactive protein concentrations, other biochemical measures and urine betaine excretion, were compared with plasma betaine concentration by correlation and in multiple regression models, using morning blood and urine samples from 64 ambulant elderly subjects and from 55 patients admitted to hospital with hip fractures.

In the ambulant elderly without acute trauma, plasma cortisol (with negative coefficients) and carnitine (with positive coefficients) statistically predicted plasma betaine concentrations. C-reactive protein was not a predictor. In the patients, the significant predictors were plasma carnitine (positive coefficient) and plasma homocysteine (negative coefficient) and C-reactive protein again was not a predictor. In regression models using combined patient and control data there were large ranges of both cortisol and especially C-reactive protein; cortisol and homocysteine (negative coefficients) and carnitine (positive coefficient) were significant predictors but C-reactive protein was not significant.

Stress rather than inflammation may affect plasma betaine concentrations.