Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
1999129 Molecular Genetics and Metabolism 2006 7 Pages PDF
Abstract

Elevation of homocysteine is implicated in multiple medical conditions, including classical homocystinuria, a variety of remethylation disorders, and most recently in coronary artery disease. Betaine is a methyl donor agent that is beneficial in lowering homocysteine through the remethylation of methionine. Betaine therapy alone has been shown to prevent vascular events in homocystinuria and may have clinical benefits in other hyperhomocysteinemic disorders when used as adjunctive therapy. Betaine does raise the methionine level and cerebral edema has occurred when plasma methionine exceeds 1000 μmol/L. Thus the plasma methionine as well as homocysteine must be monitored in patients receiving betaine.

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