The key difference between betaine and betaine HCl is that betaine is a typically naturally occurring compound, whereas betaine HCl is a synthetic compound.
Betaine and betaine HCL are very important chemical compounds. There is a distinct difference between betaine and betaine HCl. More importantly, betaine is a modified amino acid compound containing glycine with three methyl groups, while Betaine HCl is betaine hydrochloride which is a chemical compound that is produced in laboratories.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Betaine
3. What is Betaine HCl
4. Betaine vs Betaine HCl in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Betaine vs Betaine HCl
What is Betaine?
Betaine is a modified amino acid compound containing glycine with three methyl groups. These methyl groups can serve as a methyl donor in several metabolic processes and is also useful in treating rare genetic causes of homocystinuria. It is abbreviated as BET and is an amino acid that has potential benefits for fighting heart diseases, improvement of body composition, and helping the promotion of muscle gain and fat loss.
Betaine can be identified as a neutral chemical compound having a positive charged cationic functional group (e.g. quaternary ammonium cation, phosphonium cation, etc.) that does not bear a hydrogen atom and also contains a negatively charged functional group (e,g, carboxylate group) that is usually not adjacent to the cation. Therefore, we can identify betaine as a specific type of zwitterion.
Figure 01: Betaine
Typically in biological systems, there are naturally occurring betaines that serve as organic osmolytes. These compounds synthesize inside organisms or are taken up from the environment through cells. This taking up of the compounds is helpful in protection against osmotic stress, drought, high salinity, or high temperature.
There are different uses of betaine: commercial uses as intermediates in Wittig reaction (phosphonium betaine) as components in polymerase chain reactions, as a supplement for bodybuilding, etc.
What is Betaine HCl?
Betaine HCl is betaine hydrochloride, which is a chemical compound that is produced in laboratories. This compound can increase stomach acid. Earlier, this compound was available over the counter but as a digestive aid and as a source of hydrochloric acid (it is a major component in stomach juice which is low in some people). However, it was banned later because there was a lack of evidence to recognize this substance as safe and effective. However, we can find this compound as a dietary supplement in shops.
The uses of betaine HCL include promotion of healthy stomach pH, enhancement of protein and vitamin absorption, reduction of symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease, reduction of symptoms of food allergies, etc.
What is the Difference Between Betaine and Betaine HCl?
Betaine and betaine HCL are very important chemical compounds. Betaine is a modified amino acid compound containing glycine with three methyl groups, while Betaine HCl is betaine hydrochloride, a chemical compound that is produced in laboratories. Therefore, the key difference between betaine and betaine HCl is that betaine is a typically naturally occurring compound, whereas betaine HCl is a synthetic compound.
The following figure presents the difference between betaine and betaine HCl in tabular form.
Summary – Betaine vs Betaine HCl
More importantly, betaine is a modified amino acid compound containing glycine with three methyl groups, while Betaine HCl is betaine hydrochloride, which is a chemical compound that is produced in laboratories. In brief, the key difference between betaine and betaine HCl is that betaine is a typically naturally occurring compound, whereas betaine HCl is a synthetic compound.
Reference:
1. Krouse, Lauren. “The Health Benefits of Betaine Hydrochloride.” Verywell Health.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Betain – Betaine” By NEUROtiker – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia