Tier 2 — strong

Dietary and supplementary betaine: effects on betaine and homocysteine concentrations in males

W Atkinson, S Slow, J Elmslie, M Lever, S T Chambers, P M George
Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases : NMCD 2009 19(11):767-773

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 19346114
DOI
10.1016/j.numecd.2009.01.004
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
Sample8 healthy men
InterventionBetaine-rich diet about 800 mg/day versus betaine supplement 1 g/day
Duration14 days per intervention
EndpointsDietary betaine; Homocysteine

What the study showed, in plain terms

Published in 2009, this source examined homocysteine, methylation and vascular function. Design: Randomized crossover controlled trial. Sample/model: 8 healthy men. The exposure or intervention was Betaine-rich diet about 800 mg/day versus betaine supplement 1 g/day. Follow-up or treatment period: 14 days per intervention.

Both approaches increased circulating betaine and reduced the homocysteine response to methionine loading. Fasting homocysteine changed little.

Small crossover study comparing two active approaches; no evidence of cardiovascular event prevention.

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Key findings

  • Both approaches increased circulating betaine and reduced the homocysteine response to methionine loading.
  • Fasting homocysteine changed little.
  • The recorded outcome domains were Dietary betaine; Homocysteine.
  • The result applies to the tested exposure: Betaine-rich diet about 800 mg/day versus betaine supplement 1 g/day; 14 days per intervention.

What this study can and cannot tell us

  • Small crossover study comparing two active approaches; no evidence of cardiovascular event prevention.
  • 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
Margreet R Olthof et al. · PLoS medicine · 2005
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Betaine supplementation lowers plasma homocysteine in healthy men and women
Gery R Steenge et al. · The Journal of nutrition · 2003
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Margreet R Olthof et al. · The Journal of nutrition · 2003

Citation network

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Editorial review

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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