Consumption of Wheat Aleurone-Rich Foods Increases Fasting Plasma Betaine and Modestly Decreases Fasting Homocysteine and LDL-Cholesterol in Adults

There is strong evidence that whole-grain foods protect against heart disease Although underlying mechanisms and components are unclear betaine found at high levels in wheat aleurone may play a role We evaluated the effects of a diet high in wheat aleurone on plasma betaine and related measures In a parallel single blinded intervention study 79 healthy participants (aged 45-65 y BMI >= 25 kg/m(2)) incorporated either aleurone rich cereal products (27 g/d aleurone) or control products balanced for fiber and macronutrients into their habitual diets for 4 wk Fasting blood samples were taken at baseline and postintervention (4 wk) from participants Compared with the control the aleurone products provided an additional 279 mg/d betaine and resulted in higher plasma betaine (P < 0 001 intervention effect size 5 2 mu mol/L) and lower plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) (P = 0 010 -07 mu mol/L) Plasma dimethylglycine and methionine which are products of betaine-mediated homocysteine remethylation were also higher (P < 0 001 P = 0 027) relative to control There were no significant effects on plasma choline or B vitamins (folate riboflavin and vitamin B-6) However LDL cholesterol was lower than in the control group (P = 0 037) We conclude that incorporating aleurone-rich products into the habitual diet for 4 wk significantly increases plasma betaine concentrations and lowers tHcy which is attributable to enhanced betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase-mediated remethylation of homocysteine Although this supports a role for betaine in the protective effects of whole grains concomitant decreases in LDL suggest more than one component or mechanism may be responsible J Nutr 140 2153-2157 2010