综述了甜菜碱的生理功能和药物活性，包括甜菜碱作甲基供体参与蛋氨酸循环和作为渗透调节调节高渗状态下的细胞反应，以及甜菜碱对心血管类、神经类、肝脏类和高半胱氨酸尿症类等疾病的药物活性。这为甜菜碱用作饲料添加剂和人类疾病治疗的备选药物提供了依据，有助于甜菜碱应用范围的拓展。

The physiological functions and pharmacological activities of betaine were reviewed in this paper. Betaine could be used as a methyl donor for methionine metabolism and osmosis-regulator for cell response under hypertonic stress. It also showed pharmacological activities towards the diseases of heart, nerve and liver, and hyperhemicysteinuria. The functions and activities of betaine provided a basis for the application of netaine as vessel additives and human drug candidate.