Role of Betaine in ruminants

Abstract

Betaine is a ubiquitous natural compound found in plants and animals. The beneficial functions of Betaine are ascribed to its chemical structure. Betaine, as such, acts as an osmolyte, thus preventing cellular dehydration and denaturation of proteins and enzymes. This osmoprotectant property makes Betaine a useful feed additive under various stressful conditions. In addition, it functions as a methyl group donor in transmethylation reactions and for the synthesis of various compounds such as creatine and Carnitine. Further, Betaine, a trimethyl derivative of glycine, exhibits the characteristics of the amino acid glycine. Besides, it is widely known as a