An analytical method for the determination of betaine (trimethylglycine) from hair.

Hair fibres have no active renewable protective mechanisms yet hair (wool and fur) provides an essential protective function. Therefore, it is possible that hair contains a number of internal components to maintain fibre and protein structure and function through a range of normal environmental conditions. Trimethylglycine (betaine) provides cellular and protein protection during times of high osmotic stress and low water concentrations. These conditions are very pertinent to everyday cosmetic procedures such as shampooing, bleach or perming. Therefore, we have conducted preliminary investigations to establish the presence of natural betaine in hair as a possible ingredient to provide protection and maintain protein function. Using an high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique designed for the analysis of betaine in blood and urine, we have demonstrated, via simple hot water extraction, a measurable level of betaine in blood and human hair. Further, we have demonstrated, in principle, the possibility of adding betaine back to the fibre via cosmetic products such as shampoos.

A novel method to analyze betaine in chicken liver: effect of dietary betaine and choline supplementation on the hepatic betaine concentration in broiler chicks.

Betaine was measured from liver tissue by a high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method developed for this study. The method involves homogenization of liver in acetate buffer at pH 6 and precipitation of protein with trichloroacetic acid, which was removed by diethyl ether extraction. Betaine was separated using a cation exchange column in Ca(2+) form and detected with a refractive index detector. This method also allows the determination of S-adenosylmethionine (S-AM) from the same liver extract but with different HPLC conditions. Broiler chicks were fed with experimental diets supplemented with four different doses of betaine or choline ranging from 0 to 5 mol equiv. After a 3 week feeding period, the livers were analyzed for betaine and S-AM. Dietary betaine was twice as efficient in increasing the hepatic betaine concentration as dietary choline. The hepatic S-AM concentrations were similar in all dietary treatments.