Tag: Betaine sources

The name "betaine" is derived from "beta," the Latin word for beets, where the compound was first identified in the 19th century. Today, this important nutrient is known to be available from a variety of dietary sources and can also be obtained through targeted supplementation.

First discovered in sugar beets in the 19th century, betaine, also known as trimethylglycine (TMG), is a zwitterionic molecule that can be sourced naturally from foods or produced synthetically. This article explores the precise chemical makeup and the varied origins of what is betaine made of, from its natural biosynthesis to its industrial creation.