Tier 2 — strong

Betaine supplementation enhances anabolic endocrine and Akt signaling in response to acute bouts of exercise

Jenna M Apicella, Elaine C Lee, Brooke L Bailey, Catherine Saenz, Jeffrey M Anderson, Stuart A S Craig, William J Kraemer, Jeff S Volek, Carl M Maresh
European journal of applied physiology 2013 113(3):793-802

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 22976217
DOI
10.1007/s00421-012-2492-8
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
Sample12 trained men
InterventionBetaine 1.25 g twice daily versus placebo
Duration2 weeks per treatment
EndpointsExercise hormones; Muscle signaling

What the study showed, in plain terms

Published in 2013, this source examined exercise performance and body composition. Design: Randomized crossover controlled trial. Sample/model: 12 trained men. The exposure or intervention was Betaine 1.25 g twice daily versus placebo. Follow-up or treatment period: 2 weeks per treatment.

IGF-1 and selected Akt/p70S6K signaling responses increased and cortisol exposure decreased. Growth hormone showed only a nonsignificant trend.

Acute hormonal and signaling changes do not demonstrate muscle hypertrophy or a sustained testosterone benefit.

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Key findings

  • IGF-1 and selected Akt/p70S6K signaling responses increased and cortisol exposure decreased.
  • Growth hormone showed only a nonsignificant trend.
  • The recorded outcome domains were Exercise hormones; Muscle signaling.
  • The result applies to the tested exposure: Betaine 1.25 g twice daily versus placebo; 2 weeks per treatment.

What this study can and cannot tell us

  • Acute hormonal and signaling changes do not demonstrate muscle hypertrophy or a sustained testosterone 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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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