Tier 2 — strong

Influence of betaine consumption on strenuous running and sprinting in a hot environment

Lawrence E Armstrong, Douglas J Casa, Melissa W Roti, Elaine C Lee, Stuart A S Craig, Jason W Sutherland, Kelly A Fiala, Carl M Maresh
Journal of strength and conditioning research 2008 22(3):851-860

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 18438230
DOI
10.1519/JSC.0b013e31816a6efb
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 trained male runners
InterventionRehydration drinks with or without 5 g betaine in 1 litre
DurationAcute dehydrating exercise and heat exposure
EndpointsHydration; Heat response; Running performance

What the study showed, in plain terms

Published in 2008, this source examined exercise performance and body composition. Design: Randomized crossover controlled trial. Sample/model: 10 trained male runners. The exposure or intervention was Rehydration drinks with or without 5 g betaine in 1 litre. Follow-up or treatment period: Acute dehydrating exercise and heat exposure.

Betaine changed some physiological measurements but did not significantly improve the sprint-to-exhaustion outcome.

Small acute heat study; favorable numerical trends were not statistically confirmed performance benefits.

Continue with TMG Data Center

Continue with Betaine Anhydrous Pre-Workout: Performance, Dose and Evidence

Key findings

  • Betaine changed some physiological measurements but did not significantly improve the sprint-to-exhaustion outcome.
  • The recorded outcome domains were Hydration; Heat response; Running performance.
  • The result applies to the tested exposure: Rehydration drinks with or without 5 g betaine in 1 litre; Acute dehydrating exercise and heat exposure.

What this study can and cannot tell us

  • Small acute heat study; favorable numerical trends were not statistically confirmed performance benefits.
  • 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.

Related papers in the corpus

Tier 2
Effects of chronic betaine supplementation on exercise performance: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Emilia Zawieja et al. · Journal of sports sciences · 2024
Tier 2
Effects of betaine supplementation on endurance exercise performance: a systematic review
Marie Stella Louise Perreras et al. · Physical activity and nutrition · 2025
Tier 1
Betaine supplementation fails to improve body composition: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Damoon Ashtary-Larky et al. · The British journal of nutrition · 2022
Tier 2
Betaine Supplementation Improves 60 km Cycling Time Trial Performance and One-Carbon Metabolism in Cyclists During Recovery
David C Nieman et al. · Nutrients · 2025
Tier 2
Betaine Supplementation Does Not Improve Muscle Hypertrophy or Strength Following 6 Weeks of Cross-Fit Training
Tatiana Moro et al. · Nutrients · 2020

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