The protective effect of betaine administration on changes in the levels of protein, glycoproteins and amino acids was studied in isoprenaline-induced myocardial infarction in rats as an animal model of myocardial infarction in man. Oral pre-treatment with betaine significantly (P<0.05) attenuated the isoprenaline-induced rise in the levels of troponin-T and creatine phosphokinase (CPK). Oral supplementation of betaine also significantly (P<0.05) counteracted the isoprenaline-induced alterations in the levels of amino acids (taurine, aspartate, glutamate, arginine, hydroxy proline and homocysteine), protein content, glycoprotein components (hexose and hexosamine) and lipid peroxidation in the heart tissue and maintained their levels comparable to that of control animals. The results indicated that the overall cardioprotective effect of betaine was probably related to its ability to strengthen the myocardial membrane by its membrane stabilizing action or to a counteraction of free radicals by its antioxidant property.

Key words: Betaine, myocardial infarction, isoprenaline, glycoproteins, lipid peroxidation.