Tier 2 — strong

Methionine kinetics in adult men: effects of dietary betaine on L-[2H3-methyl-1-13C]methionine

K J Storch, D A Wagner, V R Young
The American journal of clinical nutrition 1991 54(2):386-394

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 1858702
DOI
10.1093/ajcn/54.2.386
Funding
Indexed grant support: DK15856 — NIDDK NIH HHS — United States; RR88 — NCRR NIH HHS — United States. The indexed list may not contain the complete funding declaration.
Competing interests
A competing-interest declaration was not available in the indexed record or accessible disclosure metadata.

Study snapshot

DesignControlled metabolic feeding study
ModelHuman participants
Sample16 healthy young men; four groups of four
InterventionBetaine 3 g/day added to controlled amino-acid diets
Duration4-day feeding before day-5 tracer testing
EndpointsMethionine kinetics; Remethylation

What the study showed, in plain terms

Published in 1991, this source examined food sources, absorption and nutrient metabolism. Design: Controlled metabolic feeding study. Sample/model: 16 healthy young men; four groups of four. The exposure or intervention was Betaine 3 g/day added to controlled amino-acid diets. Follow-up or treatment period: 4-day feeding before day-5 tracer testing.

Oral tracer estimates suggested changes in methionine methylation and oxidation, while intravenous tracer estimates did not show the same effect.

Small groups and tracer-method dependence; mechanistic flux changes do not demonstrate clinical benefit.

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Continue with Foods High in Betaine: TMG Amounts and Practical Portions

Key findings

  • Oral tracer estimates suggested changes in methionine methylation and oxidation, while intravenous tracer estimates did not show the same effect.
  • The recorded outcome domains were Methionine kinetics; Remethylation.
  • The result applies to the tested exposure: Betaine 3 g/day added to controlled amino-acid diets; 4-day feeding before day-5 tracer testing.

What this study can and cannot tell us

  • Small groups and tracer-method dependence; mechanistic flux changes do not demonstrate clinical benefit.
  • 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