Tier 2 — strong

The Impacts of Combined Blood Flow Restriction Training and Betaine Supplementation on One-Leg Press Muscular Endurance, Exercise-Associated Lactate Concentrations, Serum Metabolic Biomarkers, and Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α Gene Expression

Steven B Machek, Dillon R Harris, Emilia E Zawieja, Jeffery L Heileson, Dylan T Wilburn, Anna Radziejewska, Agata Chmurzynska, Jason M Cholewa, Darryn S Willoughby
Nutrients 2022 14(23):5040

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 36501070
PubMed Central
PMC9739923
DOI
10.3390/nu14235040
Funding
Reported funding/support: Baylor University Health, Human Performance, and Recreation Doctoral Dissertation Research Grant and the Polish National Science CentreDEC2017/27/N/NZ9/00750The present research was partially funded by the Baylor University Health, Human Performance, and Recreation Doctoral Dissertation Research Grant and the Polish National Science Centre under Grant DEC2017/27/N/NZ9/00750 (approximately 40% and 60% of total funding, respectively).
Competing interests
Reported disclosure: S.B.M. is registered as a B3 BFR Certified Coach under B3 Sciences (Frisco, TX, USA).

Study snapshot

DesignRandomized controlled trial
ModelHuman participants
Sample18 recreationally trained men
InterventionBetaine anhydrous 6 g/day versus cellulose placebo; high-load and blood-flow-restricted exercise
Duration14 days
EndpointsLeg-press endurance; Lactate; IGF-1; Homocysteine

What the study showed, in plain terms

Published in 2022, this source examined exercise performance and body composition. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Sample/model: 18 recreationally trained men. The exposure or intervention was Betaine anhydrous 6 g/day versus cellulose placebo; high-load and blood-flow-restricted exercise. Follow-up or treatment period: 14 days.

Betaine did not increase total repetitions or demonstrate a performance synergy with blood-flow restriction. A selected IGF-1 response differed between groups.

Small experiment; an endocrine biomarker change cannot substitute for a functional training benefit.

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Continue with Betaine Anhydrous Pre-Workout: Performance, Dose and Evidence

Key findings

  • Betaine did not increase total repetitions or demonstrate a performance synergy with blood-flow restriction.
  • A selected IGF-1 response differed between groups.
  • The recorded outcome domains were Leg-press endurance; Lactate; IGF-1; Homocysteine.
  • The result applies to the tested exposure: Betaine anhydrous 6 g/day versus cellulose placebo; high-load and blood-flow-restricted exercise; 14 days.

What this study can and cannot tell us

  • Small experiment; an endocrine biomarker change cannot substitute for a functional training benefit.
  • 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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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