Long-term effect of betaine on risk factors associated with the metabolic syndrome in healthy subjects

Schwab U, Alfthan G, Aro A, Uusitupa M · European Journal of Clinical Nutrition

The longest healthy-volunteer betaine trial reports the quieter version of both stories: over 6 months serum lipids did not differ between groups, and plasma homocysteine did not change in either arm, which the authors describe as a weak homocysteine-lowering effect at this dose in this population.

Population

Healthy young adults (mean age 27, BMI 22.6), 6 months

Intervention

Betaine 4 g/day in 500 mL mineral water

Comparator

Mineral water without betaine

Limitations

63 young, lean, healthy participants with normal baseline homocysteine — the group with the least room to move; liver and kidney parameters were unchanged.