Tier 2 — strong

Postprandial plasma betaine and other methyl donor-related responses after consumption of minimally processed wheat bran or wheat aleurone, or wheat aleurone incorporated into bread

Edel M Keaveney, Ruth K Price, Lesley L Hamill, Julie M W Wallace, Helene McNulty, Mary Ward, J J Strain, Per M Ueland, Anne M Molloy, Vieno Piironen, Walter von Reding, Peter R Shewry, Jane L Ward, Robert W Welch
The British journal of nutrition 2015 113(3):445-453

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 25585164
Funding
Indexed grant support: BB/D525121/1 — Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council — United Kingdom. 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

DesignRandomized crossover controlled trial
ModelHuman participants
SampleTwo postprandial experiments with 14 and 13 adults
InterventionWheat bran, aleurone or aleurone-enriched bread versus controls
Duration3-hour post-meal sampling
EndpointsPostprandial betaine; Methyl-donor metabolites

What the study showed, in plain terms

Published in 2015, this source examined food sources, absorption and nutrient metabolism. Design: Randomized crossover controlled trial. Sample/model: Two postprandial experiments with 14 and 13 adults. The exposure or intervention was Wheat bran, aleurone or aleurone-enriched bread versus controls. Follow-up or treatment period: 3-hour post-meal sampling.

All betaine-rich wheat fractions raised plasma betaine; minimally processed aleurone produced an earlier peak than aleurone bread.

Small acute food studies with multiple nutrients; no long-term health outcome or isolated betaine effect was tested.

Continue with TMG Data Center

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

Key findings

  • All betaine-rich wheat fractions raised plasma betaine; minimally processed aleurone produced an earlier peak than aleurone bread.
  • The recorded outcome domains were Postprandial betaine; Methyl-donor metabolites.
  • The result applies to the tested exposure: Wheat bran, aleurone or aleurone-enriched bread versus controls; 3-hour post-meal sampling.

What this study can and cannot tell us

  • Small acute food studies with multiple nutrients; no long-term health outcome or isolated betaine effect was tested.
  • 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.

Editorial review

Reviewed by the Biohack Blueprint research team

Last verified