Tier 4 — mechanistic

Serum betaine but not choline is inversely associated with breast cancer risk: a case-control study in China

Yu-Feng Du, Fang-Yu Lin, Wei-Qing Long, Wei-Ping Luo, Bo Yan, Ming Xu, Xiong-Fei Mo, Cai-Xia Zhang
European journal of nutrition 2017 56(3):1329-1337

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 26897124
DOI
10.1007/s00394-016-1183-3
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

DesignCase-control biomarker study
ModelHuman participants
Sample510 cases and 518 controls recruited; serum in 500 per group
InterventionMeasured betaine status and related metabolites; no randomized TMG treatment
DurationCross-sectional blood sampling
EndpointsBreast-cancer odds; Folate interaction

What the study showed, in plain terms

Published in 2017, this source examined human observational and biomarker research. Design: Case-control biomarker study. Sample/model: 510 cases and 518 controls recruited; serum in 500 per group. The exposure or intervention was Measured betaine status and related metabolites; no randomized TMG treatment. Follow-up or treatment period: Cross-sectional blood sampling.

Higher serum betaine was associated with lower breast-cancer odds, particularly at lower folate intake.

Observational exposure analysis: residual confounding and reverse causation remain possible. Associations do not establish that betaine supplementation causes the same outcome. Diet recall, case selection or illness-related metabolite changes may introduce bias.

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Key findings

  • Higher serum betaine was associated with lower breast-cancer odds, particularly at lower folate intake.
  • The recorded outcome domains were Breast-cancer odds; Folate interaction.
  • The exposure was observed rather than assigned as an isolated supplement treatment.

What this study can and cannot tell us

  • Observational exposure analysis: residual confounding and reverse causation remain possible. Associations do not establish that betaine supplementation causes the same outcome. Diet recall, case selection or illness-related metabolite changes may introduce bias.
  • Confounding, dietary patterns, illness, medication use and reverse causation can influence an association. Blood or dietary concentrations do not identify the effect of starting a capsule.
  • Source basis: Indexed abstract and bibliographic data. Missing method details, funding information or participant denominators are not inferred.

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Editorial review

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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