Tier 2 — strong

Human Serum Betaine and Associated Biomarker Concentrations Following a 14 Day Supplemental Betaine Loading Protocol and during a 28 Day Washout Period: A Pilot Investigation

Steven B Machek, Emilia E Zawieja, Jeffery L Heileson, Dillon R Harris, Dylan T Wilburn, Emma A Fletcher, Jason M Cholewa, Artur Szwengiel, Agata Chmurzynska, Darryn S Willoughby
Nutrients 2022 14(3):498

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 35276860
PubMed Central
PMC8839982
Funding
Indexed grant support: n/a — Human Performance and Recreation Department Doctoral Dissertation Grant; n/a — Texas ACSM SRDA; DEC2017/27/N/NZ9/00750 — Polish National Science Centre. The indexed list may not contain the complete funding declaration.
Competing interests
Reported disclosure: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Study snapshot

DesignOpen-label pharmacokinetic pilot
ModelHuman participants
Sample5 resistance-trained men
InterventionBetaine anhydrous 6 g/day, then withdrawal
Duration14-day loading and 28-day washout
EndpointsSerum betaine; Washout kinetics

What the study showed, in plain terms

Published in 2022, this source examined exercise performance and body composition. Design: Open-label pharmacokinetic pilot. Sample/model: 5 resistance-trained men. The exposure or intervention was Betaine anhydrous 6 g/day, then withdrawal. Follow-up or treatment period: 14-day loading and 28-day washout.

Blood betaine rose after loading and was no longer statistically different from baseline at day 4. The authors proposed a more conservative washout for future experiments.

Only five participants and no muscle betaine measurements; statistical similarity does not establish an exact universal washout time.

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Key findings

  • Blood betaine rose after loading and was no longer statistically different from baseline at day 4.
  • The authors proposed a more conservative washout for future experiments.
  • The recorded outcome domains were Serum betaine; Washout kinetics.
  • The result applies to the tested exposure: Betaine anhydrous 6 g/day, then withdrawal; 14-day loading and 28-day washout.

What this study can and cannot tell us

  • Only five participants and no muscle betaine measurements; statistical similarity does not establish an exact universal washout time.
  • A change in blood exposure or a metabolic marker is not a demonstrated improvement in symptoms, disease events or lifespan. The tested formulation and co-administered medicines matter.
  • 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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