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The science is clear: Betaine cannot replace methionine
Published: August 24, 2026
Summary
BETAINE CAN NOT REPLACE METHIONINE Nutritionists constantly seek opportunities to reduce diet costs while maintaining optimal animal performance. When ingredient prices rise, nutritionists search for ways to reduce their use or replace them with alternative ingredients. With respect to methionine (Met), it is sometimes claimed that supplemental betaine (BET) has the potential to replace ...
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Optima Life Science Pvt. Ltd.
3 de septiembre de 2026
You are correct, Dr. Lemme, that betaine cannot replace methionine’s essential amino-acid function. However, when betaine is value-added with metabolic cofactors such as vitamins B12 and B6, it can support a controlled partial reduction of supplemental methionine.
Methionine metabolism involves three interconnected pathways: transmethylation, remethylation and transsulfuration. Betaine donates methyl groups through the BHMT pathway, vitamin B12 supports folate-dependent remethylation, and vitamin B6 acts as a cofactor in transsulfuration.
Therefore, the scientifically accurate conclusion is not that “betaine can never replace methionine,” but that it cannot replace methionine incorporated into body proteins or eliminate the animal’s minimum digestible methionine and total sulfur amino-acid requirements.
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9 de septiembre de 2026
@Kalyani Sarode
Dear Kalyani Sarode, your remark adds an aspect which we usually do not emphasize a lot in context of whether or not betaine can replace supplemental methionine. Indeed, also cobalamine (B12) has an - at least - as important role for remethylating homocysteine to methionine - which actually reduces the importance of betaine in this context.
You remind me to be scientifically correct. While, for sure, betaine is not a building block, it cannot replace methionine in protein building. However, as betaine (and choline) cannot donate its methyl group directly to creatine formation (where the vast majority of methionine methyl groups are donated to) but can only remethylate homocysteine, it de facto cannot replace methionine but only improve the remethylation process.
Indeed, as e.g. Pillai et al., 2006, demonstrated the addition of betaine was effective in a methionine deficient situation only. This is an evidence that the methionine remethylation process was improved - so, homocysteine was more often remethylated before leaving towards the transsulfuration pathway. However, first: commercial (broiler) feed is not deficient in methionine and second: in a marginal methionine supply, betaine cannot replace suplemental methionine but improve it.
The question is whether in a commercial environment betaine can replace supplemental methionine. The answer is: it cannot. Indeed, if methionine is overspecified (above requirement) you may replace the surplus (which would be degraded anyway) with anything without affecting the performance or health of the animal - or you simply reduce the specification.
Dear Kalyani Sarode, your remark adds an aspect which we usually do not emphasize a lot in context of whether or not betaine can replace supplemental methionine. Indeed, also cobalamine (B12) has an - at least - as important role for remethylating homocysteine to methionine - which actually reduces the importance of betaine in this context.
You remind me to be scientifically correct. While, for sure, betaine is not a building block, it cannot replace methionine in protein building. However, as betaine (and choline) cannot donate its methyl group directly to creatine formation (where the vast majority of methionine methyl groups are donated to) but can only remethylate homocysteine, it de facto cannot replace methionine but only improve the remethylation process.
Indeed, as e.g. Pillai et al., 2006, demonstrated the addition of betaine was effective in a methionine deficient situation only. This is an evidence that the methionine remethylation process was improved - so, homocysteine was more often remethylated before leaving towards the transsulfuration pathway. However, first: commercial (broiler) feed is not deficient in methionine and second: in a marginal methionine supply, betaine cannot replace suplemental methionine but improve it.
The question is whether in a commercial environment betaine can replace supplemental methionine. The answer is: it cannot. Indeed, if methionine is overspecified (above requirement) you may replace the surplus (which would be degraded anyway) with anything without affecting the performance or health of the animal - or you simply reduce the specification.
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9 de septiembre de 2026
It is hard to evaluate much of the data in this area because there are so many factors involved. In my early work we were not controlling folic acid levels, a mistake. I am glad that one of my students and I were the ones that figured it out.
Wheat products can contain up to 4000mg/kg betaine. Animal products and most other plant products have some. Corn and soy have none that we could detect.
At least at one time, American organic broiler producers were limited to 2 pounds of methionine per ton of feed. It was thought by some producers that organic birds did better on wheat than corn based feeds. I wondered if it had something to do with re-methylating homocysteine by the betaine that was unaccounted for. Or was it because the choline and betaine were being oxidized and de-methylated to form glycine? Is that a possible factor, especially in low protein feeds? Or something else?
I do think it is important to have plenty of folate and vitamin B12 when determining choline needs. Plenty of folate, B12, choline and cystine when determining methionine requirements. I chose the order from what I think is the least to most expensive nutrients. Actually, we could never demonstrate a B12 requirement even with low choline feeds with chicks on wire floors after the first week. And there is a compound called dimethylthetin with methylating activity. It is found in shellfish and ?? I hope this is of value to you.
Wheat products can contain up to 4000mg/kg betaine. Animal products and most other plant products have some. Corn and soy have none that we could detect.
At least at one time, American organic broiler producers were limited to 2 pounds of methionine per ton of feed. It was thought by some producers that organic birds did better on wheat than corn based feeds. I wondered if it had something to do with re-methylating homocysteine by the betaine that was unaccounted for. Or was it because the choline and betaine were being oxidized and de-methylated to form glycine? Is that a possible factor, especially in low protein feeds? Or something else?
I do think it is important to have plenty of folate and vitamin B12 when determining choline needs. Plenty of folate, B12, choline and cystine when determining methionine requirements. I chose the order from what I think is the least to most expensive nutrients. Actually, we could never demonstrate a B12 requirement even with low choline feeds with chicks on wire floors after the first week. And there is a compound called dimethylthetin with methylating activity. It is found in shellfish and ?? I hope this is of value to you.
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METAMINO®
Particularly for use in monogastrics. MetAMINO® ensures the adequate supply of sulfur amino acids,
especially of the essential methionine.
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