A simplified procedure for the determination of betaine in liver

A convenient procedure for the determination of hepatic betaine levels is described. The method takes advantage of ethanol precipitation to rid acidified tissue extracts of interfering substances. Betaine is reacted with potassium triiodide to form betaine periodide, which is selectively precipitated via pH adjustment. The precipitate of betaine periodide is dissolved in ethylene dichloride and measured spectrophotometrically. The method is specific, accurate, and simple and showed recoveries of from 97 to 103% at two different levels of added betaine. The applicability of the method was shown when it was demonstrated that diets containing different amounts of choline influenced levels of hepatic betaine.