Alleviation of acute ethanol-induced liver injury and impaired metabolomics of S-containing substances by betaine supplementation - PubMed (original) (raw)
. 2008 Apr 18;368(4):893-8.
doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.02.003. Epub 2008 Feb 11.
Affiliations
- PMID: 18267108
- DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.02.003
Alleviation of acute ethanol-induced liver injury and impaired metabolomics of S-containing substances by betaine supplementation
Sun J Kim et al. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2008.
Abstract
Oxidative stress is suggested to play a key role in the development of alcoholic liver injury. We investigated the induction of oxidative damage in association with changes in hepatic concentrations of sulfur-containing substances in mice challenged with binge-like ethanol administration. Also the protective effect of dietary betaine against ethanol-induced liver injury was determined. Serum alanine aminotransferase activity, TNFalpha level, and hepatic malondialdehyde level were increased significantly by ethanol administration. Hepatic Cyp2e1 was induced to 250% of control. Ethanol administration decreased hepatic S-adenosylmethionine, cysteine, and glutathione, but elevated hypotaurine and taurine levels. Betaine supplied in drinking water for 2 weeks attenuated the induction of alcoholic liver injury and Cyp2e1 significantly. Reduction of hepatic S-adenosylmethionine and glutathione was alleviated, and elevation of hypotaurine and taurine was depressed. The results suggest that betaine may protect the liver against ethanol-induced oxidative injury most probably via its effects on the sulfur-amino acid metabolism.