Betaine supplementation affects the cholesterol but not the lipid profile of pigs

Abstract

This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of long term betaine intake on the cholesterol and lipid profile of Alentejano (AL) pigs. At ,36 kg body weight (BW), castrated male and female pigs fed a commercial (C) diet, were divided into two groups: i) Group C, consuming the C diet; and ii) Group CB, consuming the C diet supplemented with 1 g/kg betaine. Pigs were slaughtered at ,100 kg BW. Fasting plasma concentrations of protein, urea, glucose, TAG, phospholipids, homocysteine, total and LDL-and HDL-cholesterol were determined. Liver TAG, phospholipids, and total and free cholesterol were analyzed, as well as total lipids, cholesterol contents, and fatty acid (FA) composition of M. semimembranosus and dorsal subcutaneous fat. Betaine supplemented pigs presented significantly higher plasma concentrations of TAG, phospholipids, cholesterol, and lipoprotein cholesterol. The dorsal subcutaneous fat cholesterol concentration was also significantly higher in CB than in C pigs. No differences were detected in the most abundant FA profile (including the unsaturated to saturated FA ratio) of muscle and subcutaneous fat tissues among treatments. These data suggest that betaine induces dyslipidemia, and increases cholesterol concentration in dorsal subcutaneous fat, without affecting the FA profile of M. semimembranosus and dorsal subcutaneous fat. Eur. J. Lipid Sci. Technol. 2010, 112, 295-303 295 Practical applicationsBetaine has been used as a carcass modifier on pigs and also as a homocysteine-lowering agent, the high plasma concentrations of which are considered a risk factor for pathologies such as coronary heart disease (CHD) and atherosclerosis. This work showed no effect of long term betaine consumption (2 g/ d) on body fat deposition and total lipids and FA profile of M. semimembranosus and dorsal subcutaneous fat of pigs. It also showed that betaine consumption induces dyslipidemia, namely by increasing cholesterolemia and the dorsal subcutaneous fat cholesterol concentration, without affecting the FA profile of muscle and fat tissues. These observations indicate that the use of betaine: i) did not alter muscle total lipids and FA profile of the tissues analysed, which would be of concern to consumers' health and to pig producers using betaine as a carcass modifier; but ii) must be further studied since it induces hypercholesterolemia, a CHD risk factor.

Betaine affects muscle lipid metabolism via regulating the fatty acid uptake and oxidation in finishing pig

“…The present study showed that betaine supplementation decreased the concentration of serum cholesterol and HDLC and increased cholesterol level in muscle, which was consistent with the studies by Albuquerque et al [41] and Yang et al [20]. However, Matthews et al [48] and Martins et al [49] reported that betaine supplemented pigs presented higher serum cholesterol. The efficacy of betaine in regulating the concentration of cholesterol in pigs shows variable results and seems to depend on both animal and dietary factors.…”

Impact of dietary betaine and conjugated linoleic acid on insulin sensitivity, protein and fat metabolism of obese pigs

“…Although increased total cholesterol (Matthews et al, 2001;Martins et al, 2010) and decreased HDL/total cholesterol (Martins et al, 2010) have been reported in pigs fed betaine, other authors reported no betaine effect on cholesterol, plasma NEFA or TG (Matthews et al, 1998;Øverland et al, 1999). We found decreased HDL/total cholesterol in betaine pigs, but no significant effects in total cholesterol or fractions.…”

“…Similar results were also reported in finishing pigs (Matthews et al, 1998;Huang et al, 2007) fed betaine. On the contrary, Martins et al (2010) in Alentejano finishing pigs reported no effect of betaine on plasma urea. Matthews et al (1998) suggested that the effects of betaine on protein status of pigs were dependent on the CP and energy content of the diet.…”

“…Likewise, others have also found increased plasma triacylglycerol in pigs fed CLA (Stangl et al, 1999;Ostrowska et al, 2002) or betaine (Martins et al, 2010). An increase in serum triacylglycerol levels could be an indication of reduced activity of lipoprotein lipase, which is in line with decreased heparin-releasable lipoprotein lipase activity by CLA in 3T3-L1-cultured murine adipocytes (Park et al, 1997).…”

Portal-drained viscera heat production in Iberian pigs fed betaine- and conjugated linoleic acid-supplemented diets

“…They found an increase in serum triacylglycerol, indicating that CLA and betaine + CLA could reduce adipose tissue triacylglycerol synthesis from preformed fatty acids, and a decrease in serum growth hormone and serum urea in pigs fed betaine and betaine + CLA diets, suggesting more efficient nitrogen utilization. Likewise, others have found increased plasma triacylglycerol in modern pigs fed CLA or betaine and decreased serum urea in finishing pigs fed betaine . In contrast, Martins et al reported no effect of betaine on plasma urea in Alentejano (Iberian pig raised in Portugal) finishing pigs.…”