Betaine supplementation decreases plasma homocysteine concentrations but does not affect body weight, body composition, or resting energy expenditure in human subjects

Schwab U, Törrönen A, Toppinen L, Alfthan G, Saarinen M, Aro A, Uusitupa M · The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Homocysteine fell in the betaine group (8.76 to 7.93 umol/L, interaction P=0.030) while body weight, fat mass and resting energy expenditure fell equally in both arms; serum total and LDL cholesterol were higher on betaine than on placebo (P<0.05).

Population

Obese adults (14 men, 28 women) on a hypoenergetic diet, 12 weeks

Intervention

Betaine 6 g/day

Comparator

Placebo

Limitations

42 participants for 12 weeks against a background weight-loss diet, which makes body-composition effects hard to isolate; the lipid finding is a secondary endpoint.