Tier 4 — mechanistic

The association of betaine, homocysteine and related metabolites with cognitive function in Dutch elderly people

Simone J P M Eussen, Per M Ueland, Robert Clarke, Henk J Blom, Willibrord H L Hoefnagels, Wija A van Staveren, Lisette C P G M de Groot
The British journal of nutrition 2007 98(5):960-968

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 17537289
DOI
10.1017/S0007114507750912
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

DesignObservational secondary analysis of a vitamin RCT
ModelHuman participants
Sample195 older adults
InterventionMeasured betaine status and related metabolites; no randomized TMG treatment
Duration24 weeks
EndpointsCognition; One-carbon metabolites

What the study showed, in plain terms

Published in 2007, this source examined human observational and biomarker research. Design: Observational secondary analysis of a vitamin RCT. Sample/model: 195 older adults. The exposure or intervention was Measured betaine status and related metabolites; no randomized TMG treatment. Follow-up or treatment period: 24 weeks.

Vitamin treatment changed homocysteine and betaine, but biochemical changes did not clearly improve cognition; a betaine-memory trend was not significant.

Observational exposure analysis: residual confounding and reverse causation remain possible. Associations do not establish that betaine supplementation causes the same outcome. The randomized parent intervention did not randomly assign the betaine exposure examined here.

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Key findings

  • Vitamin treatment changed homocysteine and betaine, but biochemical changes did not clearly improve cognition; a betaine-memory trend was not significant.
  • The recorded outcome domains were Cognition; One-carbon metabolites.
  • 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. The randomized parent intervention did not randomly assign the betaine exposure examined here.
  • 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