Effects of betaine on body composition, performance, and homocysteine thiolactone

Cholewa, Jason M.; Monika, Wyszczelska-Rokiel; Głowacki, Rafał; Jakubowski, Hieronim; Matthews, Tracey D.; Wood, Richard J.; Craig, Stuart A.; Paolone, Vincent

doi:10.1186/1550-2783-10-39

Cited by 65 publications

(93 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…For example, our laboratory (31) and others (4, 13, 22) showed BT supplementation improved select physical performance measures, likely due to its ability to donate methyl groups thereby upregulating creatine synthesis in skeletal muscle (3, 7). This mechanism, however, was recently questioned (8).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 88%

The Effect of Betaine on Nitric Oxide and Cardiovascular Response to Exercise

Pryor

Swensen

Sforzo

2011

Medicine &Amp; Science in Sports &Amp; Exercise

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Betaine (BT) supplementation improves selected markers of physical performance, however, the mechanism(s) by which this change occurs remains largely unknown. Some speculate that BT may increase circulating nitrate concentrations, improving physical performance by augmentation of endothelial nitric oxide production. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of acute BT supplementation and exercise on plasma nitrate levels and related cardiovascular response (CVR). Placebo and BT trials were administered in a cross-over, randomized, double-blind, and counterbalanced fashion. Ten healthy college-aged volunteers consumed either a 250 ml placebo (carbohydrate-electrolyte beverage, CHO) or 250 ml CHO + 2.5 g BT. Subjects rested for 45 min, then cycled for 30 min at 60 rpm with a resistance of 2.5% body weight. Blood was drawn before and 45 min after BT supplementation, and immediately post exercise to assess plasma nitrate levels. Repeated measures ANOVA across treatments and times assessed differences in plasma nitrate and CVR variables with an alpha level set at 0.05. No significant interactions nor differences between groups were found for plasma nitrate levels or CVR variables with acute BT supplementation. A significant time effect (p < 0.013) for all CVR variables was found and expected due to the effect of exercise. Acute BT supplementation did not increase plasma nitrate levels nor alter CVR at rest or during light to moderate cycling.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 88%

The Effect of Betaine on Nitric Oxide and Cardiovascular Response to Exercise

Pryor

Swensen

Sforzo

2011

Medicine &Amp; Science in Sports &Amp; Exercise

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“…For the chest, we measured the girth, taken at the level of the middle of the sternum, with the tape passing under the arms and at the end of a normal expiration. For the thigh and arm, we assessed the maximal cross-sectional area (CSA) using the method of Moritani-DeVries, which is based on girth and skin-fold measurements [ 41 – 43 ]. The literature shows that the muscle CSA measures obtained by the Moritani-DeVries method are highly correlated with measures obtained by computer tomography or muscle biopsy, the gold standards for muscle CSA measurement [ 41 – 43 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining the effect ofWithania somniferasupplementation on muscle strength and recovery: a randomized controlled trial

Wankhede¹,

Langade

Joshi³

et al. 2015

Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition

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BackgroundWithania somnifera (ashwagandha) is a prominent herb in Ayurveda. This study was conducted to examine the possible effects of ashwagandha root extract consumption on muscle mass and strength in healthy young men engaged in resistance training.MethodsIn this 8-week, randomized, prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study, 57 young male subjects (18–50 years old) with little experience in resistance training were randomized into treatment (29 subjects) and placebo (28 subjects) groups. Subjects in the treatment group consumed 300 mg of ashwagandha root extract twice daily, while the control group consumed starch placebos. Following baseline measurements, both groups of subjects underwent resistance training for 8 weeks and measurements were repeated at the end of week 8. The primary efficacy measure was muscle strength. The secondary efficacy measures were muscle size, body composition, serum testosterone levels and muscle recovery. Muscle strength was evaluated using the 1-RM load for the bench press and leg extension exercises. Muscle recovery was evaluated by using serum creatine kinase level as a marker of muscle injury from the effects of exercise.ResultsCompared to the placebo subjects, the group treated with ashwagandha had significantly greater increases in muscle strength on the bench-press exercise (Placebo: 26.4 kg, 95 % CI, 19.5, 33.3 vs. Ashwagandha: 46.0 kg, 95 % CI 36.6, 55.5; p = 0.001) and the leg-extension exercise (Placebo: 9.8 kg, 95 % CI, 7.2,12.3 vs. Ashwagandha: 14.5 kg, 95 % CI, 10.8,18.2; p = 0.04), and significantly greater muscle size increase at the arms (Placebo: 5.3 cm2, 95 % CI, 3.3,7.2 vs. Ashwagandha: 8.6 cm2, 95 % CI, 6.9,10.8; p = 0.01) and chest (Placebo: 1.4 cm, 95 % CI, 0.8, 2.0 vs. Ashwagandha: 3.3 cm, 95 % CI, 2.6, 4.1; p < 0.001). Compared to the placebo subjects, the subjects receiving ashwagandha also had significantly greater reduction of exercise-induced muscle damage as indicated by the stabilization of serum creatine kinase (Placebo: 1307.5 U/L, 95 % CI, 1202.8, 1412.1, vs. Ashwagandha: 1462.6 U/L, 95 % CI, 1366.2, 1559.1; p = 0.03), significantly greater increase in testosterone level (Placebo: 18.0 ng/dL, 95 % CI, -15.8, 51.8 vs. Ashwagandha: 96.2 ng/dL, 95 % CI, 54.7, 137.5; p = 0.004), and a significantly greater decrease in body fat percentage (Placebo: 1.5 %, 95 % CI, 0.4 %, 2.6 % vs. Ashwagandha: 3.5 %, 95 % CI, 2.0 %, 4.9 %; p = 0.03).ConclusionThis study reports that ashwagandha supplementation is associated with significant increases in muscle mass and strength and suggests that ashwagandha supplementation may be useful in conjunction with a resistance training program.

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“…Betaine has been suggested as a nutrient that can protect cells and proteins from environmental stress and prevent chronic diseases in humans ( Craig, 2004 ; Patrick, 2002 ). In addition, Cholewa et al (2013) reported that betaine supplementation improved the performance and body composition of strength-trained males. Therefore, it seems likely that increasing the concentrations of l -carnitine and betaine would improve the nutritional value of meat.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Proximate Composition, and L-Carnitine and Betaine Contents in Meat from Korean Indigenous Chicken

Jung

Bae

Yong

et al. 2015

Asian Australas. J. Anim. Sci

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This study investigated the proximate composition and l-carnitine and betaine content of meats from 5 lines of Korean indigenous chicken (KIC) for developing highly nutritious meat breeds with health benefits from the bioactive compounds such as l-carnitine and betaine in meat. In addition, the relevance of gender (male and female) and meat type (breast and thigh meat) was examined. A total of 595 F1 progeny (black [B], grey-brown [G], red-brown [R], white [W], and yellow-brown [Y]) from 70 full-sib families were used. The moisture, protein, fat, and ash contents of the meats were significantly affected by line, gender, and meat type (p<0.05). The males in line G and females in line B showed the highest protein and the lowest fat content of the meats. l-carnitine and betaine content showed effects of meat type, line, and gender (p<0.05). The highest l-carnitine content was found in breast and thigh meats from line Y in both genders. The breast meat from line G and the thigh meat from line R had the highest betaine content in males. The female breast and thigh meats showed the highest betaine content in line R. These data could be valuable for establishing selection strategies for developing highly nutritious chicken meat breeds in Korea.

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Effects of betaine on body composition, performance, and homocysteine thiolactone

Cited by 65 publications

References 40 publications

The Effect of Betaine on Nitric Oxide and Cardiovascular Response to Exercise

The Effect of Betaine on Nitric Oxide and Cardiovascular Response to Exercise

Examining the effect ofWithania somniferasupplementation on muscle strength and recovery: a randomized controlled trial

Proximate Composition, and L-Carnitine and Betaine Contents in Meat from Korean Indigenous Chicken

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