Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40798958›Full record

ReviewCurrent neuropharmacology2026

Betaine: A Promising Natural Product for Neurological and Psychiatric Diseases.

Ying Zhang, Zhaojuan Ke, Jie Luo, Qibin Chen, Xin Jiang, Jialin Xiong, Linya Deng

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Current neuropharmacology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Ying ZhangDepartment of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Zhaojuan KeDepartment of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Jie LuoDepartment of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Qibin ChenDepartment of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Xin JiangDepartment of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Jialin XiongDepartment of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Linya DengDepartment of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Neurological and psychiatric diseases pose a considerable global burden. Exploring additional potential prevention strategies and therapies is ongoing. As a prevalent natural product and nutraceutical from food, betaine's pharmaceutical applications suggest benefits for both health and disease in multiple organs. Recently, its efficacy on neurological and psychiatric health has been proposed and has drawn considerable attention. This review aims to provide an updated, critical, and comprehensive profile of the promising medicinal roles of betaine in these diseases. In addition to its well-known osmotic protection, due to methyl donation, it regulates metabolism, alleviates oxidative stress, and reduces inflammation. To manifest neurological and psychiatric health benefits, betaine acts by affecting gamma-aminobutyric acid associated with its transporters, related neurotransmitters, downstream and neurological pathways, and other specific mechanisms in the nervous system. Betaine demonstrates therapeutic potential against various neurological and psychiatric diseases, such as epilepsy, neurocognitive disorders (including Alzheimer's disease), Parkinson's disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, sleep disorders, fetal alcohol syndrome, syringomyelia, neonatal brain injury, neuropathic pain, and motor dysfunction. Despite the promising role of betaine in the treatment, diagnosis, and prevention of neuropsychiatric disorders, much of the present evidence appears to be fragmentary. Further studies elucidating the underlying mechanisms and direct clinical applications are required to obtain a deeper understanding of betaine and its underutilized potential. Overall, this review highlights the potential of betaine as a promising agent with benefits for neurological and psychiatric diseases, aiming to offer clues to advance this field.

Indexed as

BetaineBiological ProductsMental DisordersNervous System DiseasesAnimalsHumansBetaineBiological ProductsBetainegamma-aminobutyric acidmental disordermethyl donorneuropsychiatric diseaseosmolyte

Identifiers

PMID40798958
PMCPMC13523337

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.