A component of breast milk BETAINE — may help improve the long-term metabolic health of babies

Quick Summary: Research research suggests betaine, a component of human milk, may help improve long-term metabolic health of babies. Betaine could help the growth of beneficial bacteria in the infant gut, which may affect long-term metabolic health.

I had never heard of this component of breast milk before — BETAINE.

A quick google search and I found out betaine is a type of amino acid widely found in animals, plants, whole-grain foods, seafood (especially marine invertebrates) and spinach.

And it’s in human milk.

Research research suggests that betaine in breast milk may help improve long-term metabolic health of babies. Betaine could help the growth of beneficial bacteria in the infant gut, which may affect long-term metabolic health.

The study:

Ribo S. et al., (Mar 31, 2021) were looking to identify substances associated with rapid early growth — which previous research had linked to increased risk of obesity in later life.

• Scientists studied the breast milk from 34 exclusively breastfeeding mothers from Oklahoma, USA.
• The scientists looked at choline, betaine, methionine, SAM, SAH, and cystathionine…