Tier 4 — mechanistic

Lower plasma glutathione, choline, and betaine concentrations are associated with fatty liver in postmenopausal women

Agata Muzsik-Kazimierska, Artur Szwengiel, Grzegorz Nikrandt, Agata Chmurzynska
Nutrition research (New York, N.Y.) 2022 101:23-30

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 35364359
DOI
10.1016/j.nutres.2022.02.004
Funding
Funding was not specified in the indexed record or accessible funding metadata.
Competing interests
Reported disclosure: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Study snapshot

DesignCross-sectional study
ModelHuman participants
Sample131 postmenopausal women
InterventionMeasured betaine status and related metabolites; no randomized TMG treatment
DurationBlood sampling and steatosis-index classification
EndpointsFatty-liver markers; Postmenopause

What the study showed, in plain terms

Published in 2022, this source examined human observational and biomarker research. Design: Cross-sectional study. Sample/model: 131 postmenopausal women. The exposure or intervention was Measured betaine status and related metabolites; no randomized TMG treatment. Follow-up or treatment period: Blood sampling and steatosis-index classification.

Women classified with fatty liver had lower betaine, choline and glutathione 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

  • Women classified with fatty liver had lower betaine, choline and glutathione concentrations.
  • The recorded outcome domains were Fatty-liver markers; Postmenopause.
  • 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.
  • 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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Dietary Choline and Betaine and Risk of CVD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies
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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