Protective Effect of Betaine on Changes in Lipid Profile, Lipoproteins and Fatty Acid Composition in Experimentally Induced Myocardial Infarction in Wistar Rats

Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the most common manifestations of cardiovascular disease. In recent years, accumulating evidence has indicated that the incidence and progression of cardiovascular disease may, to some extent, be modified by dietary means. In the present study, we investigated the protective effect of betaine, a potent lipotropic molecule, on changes in lipid profile and fatty acid composition in isoprenaline-induced myocardial infarction in rats, an animal model of myocardial infarction in man. Oral administration of betaine (250 mg/kg body weight/day for a period of 30 days) significantly reduced the isoprenaline-induced hyperlipidemic abnormalities noted in the levels of lipoprotein, cholesterol, triglycerides and free fatty acids in plasma and heart tissue. Pretreatment with betaine significantly attenuated isoprenaline-induced phospholipid depletion in the heart tissue and preserved the myocardial fatty acid composition at levels comparable to that of control rats. It also significantly counteracted the isoprenaline-mediated lipid peroxidation and maintained the level of non-enzymatic antioxidant, reduced glutathione (GSH) at near normal. The results of the present study indicated that the overall cardioprotective effect of betaine is probably related to an inhibition of lipid accumulation by its hypolipidemic properties or to a counteraction of free radicals by its antioxidant nature. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________