Tier 2 — strong

Betaine supplementation decreases plasma homocysteine concentrations but does not affect body weight, body composition, or resting energy expenditure in human subjects

Ursula Schwab, Anneli Törrönen, Leena Toppinen, Georg Alfthan, Markku Saarinen, Antti Aro, Matti Uusitupa
The American journal of clinical nutrition 2002 76(5):961-967

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 12399266
DOI
10.1093/ajcn/76.5.961
Funding
Funding was not specified in the indexed record or accessible funding metadata.
Competing interests
A competing-interest declaration was not available in the indexed record or accessible disclosure metadata.

Study snapshot

DesignRandomized controlled trial
ModelHuman participants
Sample42 adults with obesity on an energy-restricted diet
InterventionBetaine 6 g/day versus placebo
Duration12 weeks after a 4-week run-in
EndpointsWeight; Body composition; Energy expenditure; Lipids

What the study showed, in plain terms

Published in 2002, this source examined metabolic health and liver trials. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Sample/model: 42 adults with obesity on an energy-restricted diet. The exposure or intervention was Betaine 6 g/day versus placebo. Follow-up or treatment period: 12 weeks after a 4-week run-in.

Betaine lowered homocysteine but did not add to weight loss, body-composition change or resting energy expenditure. Total and LDL cholesterol were higher with betaine.

A diet-associated trial in adults with obesity; lower homocysteine did not translate into better weight or lipid outcomes.

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Key findings

  • Betaine lowered homocysteine but did not add to weight loss, body-composition change or resting energy expenditure.
  • Total and LDL cholesterol were higher with betaine.
  • The recorded outcome domains were Weight; Body composition; Energy expenditure; Lipids.
  • The result applies to the tested exposure: Betaine 6 g/day versus placebo; 12 weeks after a 4-week run-in.

What this study can and cannot tell us

  • A diet-associated trial in adults with obesity; lower homocysteine did not translate into better weight or lipid outcomes.
  • An individual controlled trial must be interpreted alongside its comparator, sample size, endpoint selection and independent replication. It does not validate a different commercial formulation or a general longevity claim.
  • Source basis: Indexed abstract and bibliographic data. Missing method details, funding information or participant denominators are not inferred.

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Dr. Khaled Mahmoud, MBBChCritical Care Medicine, Longevity Science & Editorial Direction Dr. Amr Yasser, PhDCardiometabolic, Musculoskeletal, Gut & Bioavailability Dr. Abdulla Mostafa, PhDCellular Senescence, Neurological, Mitochondrial & Brain-Ageing Biology