Betaine supplementation and blood lipids: fact or artifact?

Betaine supplementation in humans has been shown to lower plasma homocysteine concentrations in modestly hyperhomocysteinemic patients. Betaine treatment is associated with increased plasma low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, suggesting that although betaine supplementation lowers homocysteine, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, changes in blood lipids may have a counterbalancing effect. However, whether the betaine effect on LDL concentration is a clinically significant problem that should change treatment options or is simply an artifact needs further study.