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

Abstract

Background/Objectives: To examine the effects of betaine on serum lipid profile, plasma homocysteine concentration and hemostatic factors in healthy subjects. Subjects/Methods: Altogether, 63 volunteers (27 ± 8 years, body mass index 22.6 ± 2.4 kg/m 2 ) participated in a placebocontrolled, randomized, parallel double-blinded study. The intervention lasted for 6 months during which the subjects consumed mineral water 500 ml/day with (betaine group, n ¼ 32) or without (control group, n ¼ 31) a 4-g betaine supplementation.Results: There was a significant interaction of time and group (general linear model) in serum total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol concentrations and total-to-high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol ratio without a significant difference between or within the groups. Concentrations of serum HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides or oxidized LDL did not change during the study. Plasma homocysteine concentration did not change in either of the groups. Plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 concentration increased in the betaine group (P ¼ 0.028) and decreased in the control group (P ¼ 0.006). There was a significant interaction of time and group (general linear model) in plasma fibrinogen and blood hemoglobin concentration without a significant difference between or within the groups. There were no changes in parameters regarding the function of the liver or kidney. Conclusions: Betaine had no effect on serum lipid profile in long term in young healthy subjects. The lowering effect on plasma homocysteine concentration was weak.

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

“…17 No serious adverse effects were noted in any of the studies; but it is important to note that, in 2 studies, betaine supplementation significantly increased total serum cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which are both independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease. 9,13 However, the changes were small and of minor clinical significance, with increases in both total serum cholesterol and LDL cholesterol of approximately 5 mg/dL. These 2 studies parallel another study that found significant increases in both total serum cholesterol and LDL cholesterol of approximately 10 mg/dL.…”

“…[9][10][11][12][13] Although 17 potentially relevant studies were identified and screened, 12 trials did not meet the eligibility criteria for the meta-analysis. Major reasons for exclusion of studies were as follows: not being randomized placebo-controlled trials (5 trials), utilization of patient populations with serious diseases such as chronic renal failure and steatohepatitis (4 trials), absence of data to calculate the net mean change in plasma homocysteine (2 trials), and involvement of methionine loading (1 trial).…”

“…8 Studies in healthy volunteers show that 6 g/d of betaine lowers plasma homocysteine concentrations by 5% to 20%. [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] The purpose of this study was to perform a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials that used daily betaine supplementation to identify the range in betaine's effects on lowering homocysteine.…”

Betaine supplementation and the metabolic syndrome

“…Others have reported significant reductions in homocysteine in response to more modest supplementation (Olthof et al, 2003;Price et al, 2010), which further supports our conclusion that the study population was betaine replete and inappropriate for assessing the effect on metabolic syndrome patients. Schwab et al (2011) confirm the safety of long-term betaine supplementation. The minimal effect on plasma lipids is interesting in view of suggestions that the effect of betaine on plasma lipids is dose dependent (Konstantinova et al, 2008;Atkinson et al, 2009;Price et al, 2010).…”

“…We would like to add to the discussion of the article by Schwab et al (2011), reporting the long-term effect of betaine supplementation in young healthy subjects.…”