Tier 2 — strong

Effects of low-dose B vitamins plus betaine supplementation on lowering homocysteine concentrations among Chinese adults with hyperhomocysteinemia: a randomized, double-blind, controlled preliminary clinical trial

Xiao-Ting Lu, Yi-Na Wang, Qi-Wan Mo, Bi-Xia Huang, Yu-Fang Wang, Zi-Hui Huang, Yan Luo, Wusiman Maierhaba, Tong-Tong He, Shu-Yi Li, Rong-Zhu Huang, Meng-Tao Yang, Xiao-Zhan Liu, Zhao-Yan Liu, Si Chen, Ai-Ping Fang, Xu-Guang Zhang, Hui-Lian Zhu
European journal of nutrition 2023 62(4):1599-1610

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 36717385
PubMed Central
PMC9886420
DOI
10.1007/s00394-023-03087-y
Funding
Funding was not specified in the indexed record or accessible funding metadata.
Competing interests
Reported disclosure: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Study snapshot

DesignRandomized controlled trial
ModelHuman participants
Sample100 Chinese adults with elevated homocysteine
InterventionBetaine 1 g/day plus folic acid 400 micrograms, B6 8 mg and B12 6.4 micrograms versus placebo
Duration12 weeks
EndpointsHomocysteine; Folate and B12 status

What the study showed, in plain terms

Published in 2023, this source examined homocysteine, methylation and vascular function. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Sample/model: 100 Chinese adults with elevated homocysteine. The exposure or intervention was Betaine 1 g/day plus folic acid 400 micrograms, B6 8 mg and B12 6.4 micrograms versus placebo. Follow-up or treatment period: 12 weeks.

The combined formula lowered homocysteine relative to placebo, with a reported between-group difference of about 3.87 micromol/L at 12 weeks.

Multiple active nutrients prevent attribution to betaine alone; participants were not exposed to mandatory folic acid fortification.

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Continue with TMG and Homocysteine: How Much Can Betaine Lower It?

Key findings

  • The combined formula lowered homocysteine relative to placebo, with a reported between-group difference of about 3.87 micromol/L at 12 weeks.
  • The recorded outcome domains were Homocysteine; Folate and B12 status.
  • The result applies to the tested exposure: Betaine 1 g/day plus folic acid 400 micrograms, B6 8 mg and B12 6.4 micrograms versus placebo; 12 weeks.

What this study can and cannot tell us

  • Multiple active nutrients prevent attribution to betaine alone; participants were not exposed to mandatory folic acid fortification.
  • 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