Varatharajalu R, Garige M, Leckey LC, et al. Betaine protects chronic alcohol and omega-3 PUFA-mediated down-regulations of PON1 gene, serum PON1 and homocysteine thiolactonase activities with restoration of liver GSH. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2010 Mar 1;34(3):424-341.
PMID: 20028357
DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2009.01107.x
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1530-0277.2009.01107.x/abst...
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http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1530-0277.2009.01107.x/pdf
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Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2010 Mar 1;34(3):424-31. Epub 2009 Dec 17.
Betaine protects chronic alcohol and omega-3 PUFA-mediated down-regulations of PON1 gene, serum PON1 and homocysteine thiolactonase activities with restoration of liver GSH.
Varatharajalu R, Garige M, Leckey LC, Gong M, Lakshman MR.
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Lipid Research Laboratory, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20422, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Paraoxonase (PON1) is an antioxidant enzyme that prevents LDL oxidation as well as detoxifies homocysteine thiolactone (HCTL), both of which can cause atherosclerosis. Chronic alcohol (ETOH) and high omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 PUFA) consumption may affect PON1 status presumably via reactive oxygen species by depleting liver glutathione (GSH), whereas betaine may counter their effects. Therefore, we investigated the influence of ETOH, omega-3 PUFA, and betaine on liver GSH, PON1 expression, lipid score, as well as serum PON1 and HCTLase activities.
METHODS: Experimental rats belonging to various dietary groups were pair-fed with Lieber-DeCarli low (2.8% the dietary calories as omega3-fatty acids) and high (13.8% the dietary calories as omega3-fatty acids) menhaden fish alcohol-liquid diets with and without betaine (10 g/l diet) for 8 weeks after which liver PON1 mRNA, GSH, lipid score, and serum PON1, HCTLase, and ALT activities were measured.
RESULTS: High omega-3 PUFA decreased liver PON1 mRNA expression, serum PON1, and HCTLase activity by 23% (p < 0.01), 20% (p < 0.05), and 28% (p < 0.05), respectively compared to the low omega-3 PUFA group. ETOH decreased PON1 mRNA expression by 25 and 30% (p < 0.01) with concomitant 27% (p < 0.05) and 38% (p < 0.01), decrease in liver GSH levels in low and high omega-3 PUFA groups, respectively. Correspondingly, serum PON1 activity decreased by 23% (p < 0.05) and 58% (p < 0.01) while serum HCTLase activity decreased by 25% (p < 0.05) and 59% (p < 0.01) in the low and high omega-3 PUFA ETOH groups, respectively. Betaine restored liver PON1 mRNA expressions in low and high omega-3 PUFA ETOH groups with parallel restorations of PON1 activity and liver GSH. Concomitantly, betaine reduced hepatosteatosis accompanied by alleviation of liver injury caused by chronic alcohol and high omega-3 PUFA.
CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results, we conclude that dietary betaine not only atheroprotective by restoring liver GSH that quenches free radicals, but also may alleviate liver injury by reducing hepatosteatosis.
PMID: 20028357