Tier 4 — mechanistic

Betaine and folate status as cooperative determinants of plasma homocysteine in humans

Pål I Holm, Per M Ueland, Stein Emil Vollset, Øivind Midttun, Henk J Blom, Miranda B A J Keijzer, Martin den Heijer
Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology 2005 25(2):379-385

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 15550695
DOI
10.1161/01.ATV.0000151283.33976.e6
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

DesignCross-sectional methionine-challenge study
ModelHuman participants
Sample500 healthy adults aged 34-69
InterventionMeasured betaine status and related metabolites; no randomized TMG treatment
DurationFasting and 6-hour post-load sampling
EndpointsHomocysteine response; Folate interaction

What the study showed, in plain terms

Published in 2005, this source examined human observational and biomarker research. Design: Cross-sectional methionine-challenge study. Sample/model: 500 healthy adults aged 34-69. The exposure or intervention was Measured betaine status and related metabolites; no randomized TMG treatment. Follow-up or treatment period: Fasting and 6-hour post-load sampling.

Higher betaine predicted a smaller post-load homocysteine rise, especially with low folate status.

Observational exposure analysis: residual confounding and reverse causation remain possible. Associations do not establish that betaine supplementation causes the same outcome.

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Continue with TMG, Methylation and MTHFR: Understanding the Evidence

Key findings

  • Higher betaine predicted a smaller post-load homocysteine rise, especially with low folate status.
  • The recorded outcome domains were Homocysteine response; Folate interaction.
  • The exposure was observed rather than assigned as an isolated supplement treatment.

What this study can and cannot tell us

  • Observational exposure analysis: residual confounding and reverse causation remain possible. Associations do not establish that betaine supplementation causes the same outcome.
  • Confounding, dietary patterns, illness, medication use and reverse causation can influence an association. Blood or dietary concentrations do not identify the effect of starting a capsule.
  • Source basis: Indexed abstract and bibliographic data. Missing method details, funding information or participant denominators are not inferred.

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Editorial review

Reviewed by the Biohack Blueprint research team

Last verified

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