Abstract: Objective:To study the effect of betaine on serum lipid, hepatic lipid and antioxidation in rat of lipid metabolic disturbance induced by high-fat diet and its possible mechanism. Method: 32 SD rats were divided randomly into 4 groups based on serum TC level: high-fat diet group and 3 different doses of betaine groups. Betaine group rats were given by gavage once a day for 4 w with high-fat diet simultaneously.Serum lipid, hepatic lipid and antioxidative related indexes were determined. Results: Compared with high-fat diet group, serum TG, LDL-C, hepatic TG, TC and liver index decrease significantly. Serum SOD activity increases, while hepatic MDA content reduces. Conclusion: Betaine can regulate blood lipid level, improve hepatic lipid accumulation and hepatomegaly, and elevate antioxidative capacity. Thus it is able to prevent lipid metabolic disturbance.

Key words: betaine, lipid metabolic disturbance, serum lipid, hepatic lipid, antioxidation