Tier 4 — mechanistic

A U-shaped association between serum betaine and incident risk of first ischemic stroke in hypertensive patients

Liling Xie, Bo-Xin Zhao, Jiajun Luo, Youbao Li, Fengxin Zhu, Guo-Feng Li, Mingli He, Binyan Wang, Hao Zhang, Yefeng Cai, Yong Huo, Xiaobin Wang, Fan Fan Hou, Xiping Xu, Xianhui Qin, Jing Nie
Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) 2020 39(8):2517-2524

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 31806397
DOI
10.1016/j.clnu.2019.11.011
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

DesignNested case-control study
ModelHuman participants
Sample622 first-stroke cases and 622 matched controls
InterventionMeasured betaine status and related metabolites; no randomized TMG treatment
DurationWithin the 2008-2013 parent trial
EndpointsFirst ischemic stroke

What the study showed, in plain terms

Published in 2020, this source examined human observational and biomarker research. Design: Nested case-control study. Sample/model: 622 first-stroke cases and 622 matched controls. The exposure or intervention was Measured betaine status and related metabolites; no randomized TMG treatment. Follow-up or treatment period: Within the 2008-2013 parent trial.

Serum betaine showed a U-shaped association with first ischemic stroke, rather than a simple higher-is-better pattern.

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

  • Serum betaine showed a U-shaped association with first ischemic stroke, rather than a simple higher-is-better pattern.
  • The recorded outcome domains were First ischemic stroke.
  • 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

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