Tier 3 — preclinical

Dietary Betaine Supplementation Increases Fgf21 Levels to Improve Glucose Homeostasis and Reduce Hepatic Lipid Accumulation in Mice

Asma Ejaz, Laura Martinez-Guino, Allison B Goldfine, Francesc Ribas-Aulinas, Valeria De Nigris, Sílvia Ribó, Alba Gonzalez-Franquesa, Pablo M Garcia-Roves, Elizabeth Li, Jonathan M Dreyfuss, Walt Gall, Jason K Kim, Teodoro Bottiglieri, Francesc Villarroya, Robert E Gerszten, Mary-Elizabeth Patti, Carles Lerin
Diabetes 2016 65(4):902-912

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 26858359
PubMed Central
PMC4806659
DOI
10.2337/db15-1094
Funding
Reported funding/support: Ajinomoto, Inc. National Institutes of Healthhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100000002DK036836DK081572U24-DK093000 American Diabetes Associationhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/1000000417-12-MN-667-13-CE-17 Seventh Framework Programmehttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100004963FP7-BetaBatFP7-PEOPLE-2011-CIG Ministerio de Economía y Competitividadhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100003329BFU2011-24679RYC-2009-05158RYC2010-06789SAF2011-28502 European Foundation for the Study of Diabeteshttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001648Lilly Diabetes grant
Competing interests
A competing-interest declaration was not available in the indexed record or accessible disclosure metadata.

Study snapshot

DesignExperimental animal and/or laboratory research
ModelObese mice plus human metabolic association data
SampleExperiment-specific biological replicates and model groups; see original methods
InterventionDirect betaine supplementation in mice; blood betaine measured in humans
DurationModel-specific dietary experiments
EndpointsFGF21; Glucose homeostasis; Liver fat

What the study showed, in plain terms

Published in 2016, this source examined preclinical aging, brain and metabolic mechanisms. Design: Experimental animal and/or laboratory research. Sample/model: Experiment-specific biological replicates and model groups; see original methods. The exposure or intervention was Direct betaine supplementation in mice; blood betaine measured in humans. Follow-up or treatment period: Model-specific dietary experiments.

Mouse glucose and liver-fat outcomes improved in an FGF21-dependent manner; lower human betaine was associated with insulin resistance.

Experimental model evidence. The intervention, concentrations and outcomes do not establish an effective human supplement dose or a clinical treatment benefit.

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Key findings

  • Mouse glucose and liver-fat outcomes improved in an FGF21-dependent manner; lower human betaine was associated with insulin resistance.
  • The recorded outcome domains were FGF21; Glucose homeostasis; Liver fat.
  • The result applies to the tested exposure: Direct betaine supplementation in mice; blood betaine measured in humans; Model-specific dietary experiments.

What this study can and cannot tell us

  • Experimental model evidence. The intervention, concentrations and outcomes do not establish an effective human supplement dose or a clinical treatment benefit.
  • Cell concentrations, species, disease models and experimental routes cannot be converted directly into an effective or safe oral human regimen.
  • 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

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