Association between maternal plasma one-carbon biomarkers during pregnancy and fetal growth in twin pregnancies / 中华妇产科杂志

Objective: To characterize the relationship between the levels of plasma methyl donor and related metabolites (including choline, betaine, methionine, dimethylglycine and homocysteine) and fetal growth in twin pregnancies. Methods: A hospital-based cohort study was used to collect clinical data of 92 pregnant women with twin pregnancies and their fetuses who were admitted to Peking University Third Hospital from March 2017 to January 2018. Fasting blood was collected from the pregnant women with twin pregnancies (median gestational age: 18.9 weeks). The levels of methyl donors and related metabolites in plasma were quantitatively analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry. The generalized estimation equation was used to analyze the relationship between maternal plasma methyl donors and related metabolites levels and neonatal outcomes of twins, and the generalized additive mixed model was used to analyze the relationship between maternal plasma methyl donors and related metabolites levels and fetal growth ultrasound indicators. Results: (1) General clinical data: of the 92 women with twin pregnancies, 66 cases (72%) were dichorionic diamniotic (DCDA) twin pregnancies, and 26 cases (28%) were monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twin pregnancies. The comparison of the levels of five plasma methyl donors and related metabolites in twin pregnancies with different basic characteristics showed that the median levels of plasma choline and betaine in pregnant women ≥35 years old were higher than those in pregnant women <35 years old, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). (2) Correlation between plasma methyl donor and related metabolites levels and neonatal growth indicators: after adjusting for confounding factors, plasma homocysteine level in pregnant women with twins was significantly negatively correlated with neonatal birth weight (β=-47.9, 95%CI:-94.3- -1.6; P=0.043). Elevated methionine level was significantly associated with decreased risks of small for gestational age infants (SGA; OR=0.5, 95%CI: 0.3-0.9; P=0.021) and low birth weight infants (OR=0.6, 95%CI: 0.4-0.9; P=0.020). Increased homocysteine level was associated with increased risks of SGA (OR=1.5, 95%CI: 1.0-2.2; P=0.029) and inconsistent growth in twin fetuses (OR=1.9, 95%CI: 1.0-3.7; P=0.049). (3) Correlation between the levels of plasma methyl donors and related metabolites and intrauterine growth indicators of twins pregnancies: for every 1 standard deviation increase in plasma choline level in pregnant women with twin pregnancies, fetal head circumference, abdominal circumference, femoral length and estimated fetal weight in the second trimester increased by 1.9 mm, 2.6 mm, 0.5 mm and 20.1 g, respectively, and biparietal diameter, abdominal circumference and estimated fetal weight increased by 0.7 mm, 3.0 mm and 38.4 g in the third trimester, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). (4) Relationship between plasma methyl donor and related metabolites levels in pregnant women with different chorionicity and neonatal birth weight and length: the negative correlation between plasma homocysteine level and neonatal birth weight was mainly found in DCDA twin pregnancy (β=-65.9, 95%CI:-110.6- -21.1; P=0.004). The levels of choline, betaine and dimethylglycine in plasma of MCDA twin pregnancy were significantly correlated with the birth weight and length of newborns (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Homocysteine level is associated with low birth weight in twins, methionine is associated with decreased risk of SGA, and choline is associated with fetal growth in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

Betaine supplementation improved L-threonine fermentation of Escherichia coli THRD by upregulating zwf (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) expression

BACKGROUND: The supplementation of betaine, an osmoprotective compatible solute, in the cultivation media has been widely used to protect bacterial cells. To explore the effects of betaine addition on industrial fermentation, Escherichia coli THRD, an L-threonine producer, was used to examine the production of L-threonine with betaine supplementation and the underlying mechanism through which betaine functions was investigated. RESULTS: Betaine supplementation in the medium of E. coli THRD significantly improved L-threonine fermentation parameters. The transcription of zwf and corresponding enzyme activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were significantly promoted by betaine addition, which contributed to an enhanced expression of zwf that provided more nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) for L-threonine synthesis. In addition, as a result of the betaine addition, the betaine-stimulated expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) under the zwf promoter within a plasmid-based cassette proved to be a transcription-level response of zwf. Finally, the promoter of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase gene ppc in THRD was replaced with that of zwf, while L-threonine fermentation of the new strain was promoted by betaine addition. Conclusions: We reveal a novel mode of betaine that facilitates the microbial production of useful compounds. Betaine supplementation upregulates the expression of zwf and increases the NADPH synthesis, which may be beneficial for the cell growth and thereby promote the production of L-threonine. This finding might be useful for the production of NADPH-dependent amino acids and derivatives in E. coli THRD or other E. coli strains.

O papel da suplementação de betaína na atividade física: uma revisão sistemática / The role of betaine supplementation in physical activity: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the betaine supplementation and its possible ergogenic potential in physically active adults. Data source: In the present review, articles were searched using indexed databases (SciELO and NCBI) and the following keywords were selected for the search: "supplement", "betaine", "performance" and "adults", including terms of lexical proximity, limited to articles in English, published between 2000 and the present date. Inclusion criteria: adults, physically active individuals or individuals under physical test and betaine supplementation. Data synthesis: According to the applied search criteria, 20,750 articles were found, from which only seven obeyed to inclusion parameters after judicious reading of the texts. In these, betaine supplementation was capable to increase anaerobic potency, muscular and isometric endurance, and stimulate an anabolic environment. In contrast, no increase was observed in the plasmatic levels of nitrate/nitrite and, when compared to creatine, betaine supplementation was not able to raise the levels of phosphorylcreatine or strength in sedentary individuals. CONCLUSIONS: The present work showed that betaine supplementation plays an important role as an ergogenic resource, mainly in biomarkers and muscular strength and power; nevertheless, it is apparently ineffective when given to sedentary individuals

OBJETIVO: Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a suplementação de betaína e seu possível potencial ergogênico em adultos fisicamente ativos. Fonte de dados: Na presente revisão, artigos foram pesquisados usando bancos de dados indexados (e.g., SciELO e NCBI) e as seguintes palavras-chave foram selecionados para a procura: "suplemento", "betaína", "desempenho" e "adultos", incluindo termos de proximidade léxica, limitado-se a artigos em inglês e português publicados entre 2000 e a presente data. Critérios de inclusão: referirem-se a adultos, indivíduos fisicamente ativos ou sob teste físico e suplementação de betaína. Síntese dos dados: De acordo com os critérios de pesquisa aplicada, 20.750 artigos foram encontrados, dos quais apenas sete obedeceram aos parâmetros de inclusão após leitura criteriosa do texto. Nesses estudos, a suplementação de betaína foi capaz de elevar potência anaeróbica, resistência muscular e isométrica e estimular um ambiente anabólico. Em contraste, não foram encontradas elevações nos níveis plasmáticos de nitrato/nitrito e, quando comparada à suplementação de creatina, não foi capaz de elevar níveis de fosforilcreatina ou força em indivíduos sedentários. CONCLUSÕES: O presente trabalho mostrou que a suplementação de betaína desempenha um papel importante como ergogênico, principalmente em níveis de marcadores biológicos e sobre força e potência muscular, embora aparentemente seja inefetiva quando fornecida a indivíduos sedentários

Stress responses in two genotypes of mulberry (Morus alba L.) under NaCl salinity.

Changes in biomass yield rates, cell membrane stability (CMS), malondialdehyde (MDA) content and in the levels of physiological stress markers such as proline and glycine betaine in two high yielding genotypes (S1 and ATP, salt tolerant and salt sensitive, respectively) of mulberry under NaCl salinity were studied. Biomass yield rates and CMS were significantly decreased in both the genotypes under stress conditions. Per cent of decrease in biomass yield rate and CMS was relatively less in S1 than in ATP. Salt stress results a significant increase in the accumulation of proline, by 6-fold in S1 and 4-fold in ATP. Glycine betaine content was also increased significantly in stressed plants. However, the per cent increase was more in S1 than in ATP. The level of lipid peroxidation as indicated by MDA formation was greater in ATP than in S1. These results clearly support the better salt tolerant nature of S1 compared to ATP genotype.