Tier 2 — strong

Intra-individual variation of plasma trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), betaine and choline over 1 year

Tilman Kühn, Sabine Rohrmann, Disorn Sookthai, Theron Johnson, Verena Katzke, Rudolf Kaaks, Arnold von Eckardstein, Daniel Müller
Clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine 2017 55(2):261-268

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 27447240
DOI
10.1515/cclm-2016-0374
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

DesignRepeated biomarker study
ModelHuman participants
Sample100 EPIC-Heidelberg participants
InterventionMeasured betaine status and related metabolites; no randomized TMG treatment
DurationTwo samples 1 year apart
EndpointsBiomarker repeatability

What the study showed, in plain terms

Published in 2017, this source examined human observational and biomarker research. Design: Repeated biomarker study. Sample/model: 100 EPIC-Heidelberg participants. The exposure or intervention was Measured betaine status and related metabolites; no randomized TMG treatment. Follow-up or treatment period: Two samples 1 year apart.

Betaine concentrations were more stable within individuals over a year than TMAO concentrations.

Observational exposure analysis: residual confounding and reverse causation remain possible. Associations do not establish that betaine supplementation causes the same outcome.

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Key findings

  • Betaine concentrations were more stable within individuals over a year than TMAO concentrations.
  • The recorded outcome domains were Biomarker repeatability.
  • The result applies to the tested exposure: Measured betaine status and related metabolites; no randomized TMG treatment; Two samples 1 year apart.

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.
  • 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.

Related papers in the corpus

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Dietary Choline and Betaine and Risk of CVD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies
Katie A Meyer et al. · Nutrients · 2017
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Dietary Choline and Betaine Are Not Associated With the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies
Elham Sharifi-Zahabi et al. · Journal of diabetes research · 2026
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Association of choline and betaine with the risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality: Meta-analysis
Qinglin Yang et al. · European journal of clinical investigation · 2023
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Association of choline and betaine levels with cancer incidence and survival: A meta-analysis
Jiyoung Youn et al. · Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) · 2019

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