Tier 2 — strong

Choline supplementation and measures of choline and betaine status: a randomised, controlled trial in postmenopausal women

Julie M W Wallace, Jacqueline M McCormack, Helene McNulty, Paula M Walsh, Paula J Robson, Maxine P Bonham, Maresa E Duffy, Mary Ward, Anne M Molloy, John M Scott, Per M Ueland, J J Strain
The British journal of nutrition 2012 108(7):1264-1271

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 22172554
DOI
10.1017/S000711451100674X
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 controlled trial
ModelHuman participants
Sample42 healthy postmenopausal women
InterventionCholine 1 g/day as bitartrate versus placebo
Duration12 weeks
EndpointsCholine and betaine status; Homocysteine; Lipids

What the study showed, in plain terms

Published in 2012, this source examined food sources, absorption and nutrient metabolism. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Sample/model: 42 healthy postmenopausal women. The exposure or intervention was Choline 1 g/day as bitartrate versus placebo. Follow-up or treatment period: 12 weeks.

Choline supplementation increased circulating choline and betaine without changing lipids. The homocysteine comparison was only a nonsignificant trend.

The intervention was choline, not TMG; P=0.058 does not confirm homocysteine lowering.

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

Key findings

  • Choline supplementation increased circulating choline and betaine without changing lipids.
  • The homocysteine comparison was only a nonsignificant trend.
  • The recorded outcome domains were Choline and betaine status; Homocysteine; Lipids.
  • The result applies to the tested exposure: Choline 1 g/day as bitartrate versus placebo; 12 weeks.

What this study can and cannot tell us

  • The intervention was choline, not TMG; P=0.058 does not confirm homocysteine lowering.
  • 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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Editorial review

Reviewed by the Biohack Blueprint research team

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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