CHAPTER 8: Assays of Betaines using 1H NMR Spectroscopy
-
Published:15 May 2015
-
P. G. Takis, K. D. Papavasileiou, A. N. Troganis, and V. S. Melissas, in Betaine: Chemistry, Analysis, Function and Effects, ed. V. R. Preedy, The Royal Society of Chemistry, 2015, pp. 105-119.
Download citation file:
In this short review, an attempt is made to highlight the biological importance as well as the impact of glycine betaine and other N-methylated compounds, structurally similar to glycine betaine, revealed by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. Namely, glycine betaine's, trimethylamine's, trimethylamine-N-oxide's, proline betaine's, carnitine's, choline's and trigonelline's identification and quantification solely via 1H-NMR spectroscopy in complex biomixtures are pointed out through selected longitudinal research studies. Moreover, these indicative examples certify that these metabolites are not only essential for proper biological function of all kinds of living organisms but also their concentration-level variations establish them as nutritional and medicinal biomarkers. Simultaneously, 1H-NMR spectroscopy is proved to be a trustful, accurate, noninvasive analytical tool in modern biomedicine and pharmaceutical research fields.