Tier 2 — strong

Choline and Betaine Levels in Plasma Mirror Choline Intake in Very Preterm Infants

Michaela Minarski, Christoph Maas, Christine Heinrich, Katrin A Böckmann, Wolfgang Bernhard, Anna Shunova, Christian F Poets, Axel R Franz
Nutrients 2023 15(22):4758

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 38004152
PubMed Central
PMC10675502
DOI
10.3390/nu15224758
Funding
Reported funding/support: Nestlé Nutrition (Frankfurt, Germany)The University of TübingenThe study fortifier in the underlying RCT was provided by Nestlé Nutrition (Frankfurt, Germany). The University of Tübingen offered a scholarship for one of the contributory doctoral candidates (M.M.). We acknowledge support from the Open Access Publishing Fund of the University of Tübingen.
Competing interests
Reported disclosure: The authors declare no conflict of interest. The founding sponsors had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

Study snapshot

DesignSecondary analysis of an infant nutrition RCT
ModelHuman participants
Sample34 very-low-birth-weight infants; milk samples from 33 mothers
InterventionEnteral choline intake from milk, formula and fortifier; betaine measured
DurationNeonatal feeding period
EndpointsInfant choline intake; Plasma betaine

What the study showed, in plain terms

Published in 2023, this source examined food sources, absorption and nutrient metabolism. Design: Secondary analysis of an infant nutrition RCT. Sample/model: 34 very-low-birth-weight infants; milk samples from 33 mothers. The exposure or intervention was Enteral choline intake from milk, formula and fortifier; betaine measured. Follow-up or treatment period: Neonatal feeding period.

Blood choline and betaine tracked enteral choline intake; supplied choline did not reproduce fetal-like concentrations.

The randomized intervention concerned protein supply, not TMG. Associations do not establish benefit or safety of infant betaine supplementation.

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Continue with Foods High in Betaine: TMG Amounts and Practical Portions

Key findings

  • Blood choline and betaine tracked enteral choline intake; supplied choline did not reproduce fetal-like concentrations.
  • The recorded outcome domains were Infant choline intake; Plasma betaine.
  • The result applies to the tested exposure: Enteral choline intake from milk, formula and fortifier; betaine measured; Neonatal feeding period.

What this study can and cannot tell us

  • The randomized intervention concerned protein supply, not TMG. Associations do not establish benefit or safety of infant betaine supplementation.
  • 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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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