Tier 2 — strong

Orally administered betaine has an acute and dose-dependent effect on serum betaine and plasma homocysteine concentrations in healthy humans

Ursula Schwab, Anneli Törrönen, Esa Meririnne, Markku Saarinen, Georg Alfthan, Antti Aro, Matti Uusitupa
The Journal of nutrition 2006 136(1):34-38

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 16365055
DOI
10.1093/jn/136.1.34
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 crossover controlled trial
ModelHuman participants
Sample10 healthy adults
InterventionSingle doses of betaine 1, 3 or 6 g in orange juice
Duration24-hour sampling after each dose
EndpointsPharmacokinetics; Homocysteine

What the study showed, in plain terms

Published in 2006, this source examined homocysteine, methylation and vascular function. Design: Randomized crossover controlled trial. Sample/model: 10 healthy adults. The exposure or intervention was Single doses of betaine 1, 3 or 6 g in orange juice. Follow-up or treatment period: 24-hour sampling after each dose.

Circulating betaine rose rapidly and dose dependently. Single 3 g and 6 g doses lowered homocysteine, whereas 1 g did not show a significant effect.

Very small acute study; absorption and short-term biomarker changes cannot establish long-term clinical benefit. PubMed lists a correction in Journal of Nutrition 2007;137(4):1124. The source record links the correction citation; this summary does not assume that an indexed erratum is a separate independent study. Publication update

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Continue with TMG and Homocysteine: How Much Can Betaine Lower It?

Key findings

  • Circulating betaine rose rapidly and dose dependently.
  • Single 3 g and 6 g doses lowered homocysteine, whereas 1 g did not show a significant effect.
  • The recorded outcome domains were Pharmacokinetics; Homocysteine.
  • The result applies to the tested exposure: Single doses of betaine 1, 3 or 6 g in orange juice; 24-hour sampling after each dose.

What this study can and cannot tell us

  • Very small acute study; absorption and short-term biomarker changes cannot establish long-term clinical benefit. PubMed lists a correction in Journal of Nutrition 2007;137(4):1124. The source record links the correction citation; this summary does not assume that an indexed erratum is a separate independent study. Publication update
  • 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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Effect of homocysteine-lowering nutrients on blood lipids: results from four randomised, placebo-controlled studies in healthy humans
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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