The effect of low doses of betaine on plasma homocysteine in healthy volunteers

Alfthan G, Tapani K, Nissinen K, Saarela J, Aro A · British Journal of Nutrition

Mean plasma homocysteine fell 1.1% on 1 g/day (not significant), 10.0% on 3 g/day and 14.0% on 6 g/day; adding 1 mg folic acid to the 6 g dose bought a further 5% reduction, and plasma betaine rose dose-dependently from 31 to 255 umol/L.

Population

Healthy men and women, four consecutive one-week periods

Intervention

Betaine 1, 3 and 6 g/day, then 6 g betaine plus 1 mg folic acid

Comparator

Sequential within-subject dose escalation

Limitations

Sequential escalating doses without a parallel placebo arm and only one week per dose; 34 healthy volunteers; biochemical endpoints only.