Antioxidant effects of betaine against Indomethacin-induced gastric damage in rats

Betaine (trimethyl glycine) is known as methyl group donor and antioxidant in previous reports. The aim of this study was to assess the antioxidant effects of betaine in Indomethacin-induced gastric damages.
Thirty-two adult male Sprague–Dawley rats in an experimental study were divided into four equal groups as follow: Control, Indomethacin, Betaine-indomethacin and Ascorbic acid-indomethacin. Control and indomethacin groups received normal saline and betaine and ascorbic acid-pretreated rats were administrated betaine (1.5% of the total diet) and ascorbic acid (50 mg/kg body weight) for 15 consecutive days, respectively. After 24 h fasting, all of the groups received indomethacin (48 mg/kg body weight) and control group received distilled water.
Indomethacin administration increased gastric ulcer occurrence (%) in comparison with control group and betaine pretreatment significantly decreased ulcer occurrence (%) when compared to the other groups (P=0.0017). Gastric wall glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity was significantly lower in indomethacin group in comparison with the other groups (P=0.0012) while, betaine and ascorbic acid pretreatment increased GPx activity in comparison with indomethacin group (P=0.0012). Catalase activity was significantly higher in betaine-pretreated rats in comparison with indomethacin and ascorbic acid-indomethacin groups (P=0.0015). Lipid peroxidation significantly decreased in betaine and ascorbic acid pretreated groups (P=0.0013).
These results showed beneficial antioxidant effects of betaine against gastric damages induced by indomethacin in rats.