Tier 2 — strong

Betaine and choline status modify the effects of folic acid and creatine supplementation on arsenic methylation in a randomized controlled trial of Bangladeshi adults

Anne K Bozack, Caitlin G Howe, Megan N Hall, Xinhua Liu, Vesna Slavkovich, Vesna Ilievski, Angela M Lomax-Luu, Faruque Parvez, Abu B Siddique, Hasan Shahriar, Mohammad N Uddin, Tariqul Islam, Joseph H Graziano, Mary V Gamble
European journal of nutrition 2021 60(4):1921-1934

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 32918135
PubMed Central
PMC7947037
DOI
10.1007/s00394-020-02377-z
Funding
Indexed grant support: K99 ES030400 — NIEHS NIH HHS — United States; R01 CA133595 — NCI NIH HHS — United States; R00 ES018890 — NIEHS NIH HHS — United States; P42 ES010349 — NIEHS NIH HHS — United States; T32 ES007322 — NIEHS NIH HHS — United States; TL1 TR001875 — NCATS NIH HHS — United States; R01 ES017875 — NIEHS NIH HHS — United States; P30 ES009089 — NIEHS NIH HHS — United States; F31 ES029019 — NIEHS NIH HHS — United States; R01 ES030945 — NIEHS NIH HHS — United States. The indexed list may not contain the complete funding declaration.
Competing interests
Reported disclosure: /Competing interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest or competing interests.

Study snapshot

DesignRCT secondary analysis
ModelHuman participants
Sample622 arsenic-exposed Bangladeshi adults
InterventionFolic acid and/or creatine versus placebo; baseline betaine/choline status examined
Duration12 weeks
EndpointsArsenic methylation; Betaine status; Homocysteine

What the study showed, in plain terms

Published in 2021, this source examined food sources, absorption and nutrient metabolism. Design: RCT secondary analysis. Sample/model: 622 arsenic-exposed Bangladeshi adults. The exposure or intervention was Folic acid and/or creatine versus placebo; baseline betaine/choline status examined. Follow-up or treatment period: 12 weeks.

Lower baseline betaine was associated with a larger arsenic-methylation response to folic acid.

Exploratory effect-modification analysis within a vitamin/creatine trial; TMG supplementation was not tested.

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Key findings

  • Lower baseline betaine was associated with a larger arsenic-methylation response to folic acid.
  • The recorded outcome domains were Arsenic methylation; Betaine status; Homocysteine.
  • The result applies to the tested exposure: Folic acid and/or creatine versus placebo; baseline betaine/choline status examined; 12 weeks.

What this study can and cannot tell us

  • Exploratory effect-modification analysis within a vitamin/creatine trial; TMG supplementation was not 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: Accessible full-text extract plus indexed bibliographic data. Missing method details, funding information or participant denominators are not inferred.

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Supplementation with Folic Acid, but Not Creatine, Increases Plasma Betaine, Decreases Plasma Dimethylglycine, and Prevents a Decrease in Plasma Choline in Arsenic-Exposed Bangladeshi Adults
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Pharmacokinetics of oral betaine in healthy subjects and patients with homocystinuria
Bernd C Schwahn et al. · British journal of clinical pharmacology · 2003
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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