Effects of betaine on Nonalcoholic liver disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasingly prevalent, and the challenge of prevention and treatment is increasing. The "multiple hits" hypothesis of multiple insults, such as dietary fat intake, de novo lipogenesis, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, gut dysbiosis and hepatic inflammation, can provide a more accurate explanation of the pathogenesis of NAFLD. Betaine plays important roles in regulating the genes associated with NAFLD through anti-inflammatory effects, increased free fatty oxidation, anti-lipogenic effects, and improved insulin resistance and mitochondrial function; however, the mechanism of betaine remains elusive.