Betaine supplementation decreases plasma homocysteine in healthy adult participants: a meta-analysis

McRae MP · Journal of Chiropractic Medicine

Betaine lowered plasma homocysteine by a pooled 1.23 umol/L (95% CI -1.61 to -0.85, P=.01) — a real but modest biochemical effect with no joint outcomes measured in any included trial.

Population

Healthy adults across 5 randomized controlled trials

Intervention

Betaine (TMG) supplementation, typically 4-6 g/day

Comparator

Placebo

Limitations

Surrogate biomarker only; small number of trials; author is sole investigator; no connective-tissue or clinical endpoints.