Work

Betaine Supplementation Improves 60 km Cycling Time Trial Performance and One-Carbon Metabolism in Cyclists During Recovery

Year: 2025

Type: article

Study designs: Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Trial

Abstract: Background/Objectives: This study examined the effects of 2-weeks betaine versus placebo supplementation (3 g/d) on 60-km cycling performance, gut permeability, and shifts in plasma metabolites. Methods: Participants included 21 male and female non-elite cyclists. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover design was used with two 2-week supplementation periods and a 2-week washout period. Supplementation periods were followed by a 60-km cycling time trial. Six blood sam-ples were collected before and after supplementation (overnight fasted state), and at 0h-, 1.5h-, 3h-, and 24h-post-exercise. Five-hour urine samples were collected pre-supplementation and post-60-km cycling after ingesting a sugar solution contain-ing lactulose 5 g, 13C mannitol 100 mg, and 12C mannitol 1.9 g in 450 ml water. Other outcome measures included plasma intestinal fatty acid binding protein-1 (I-FABP), muscle damage biomarkers (serum creatine kinase, myoglobin), serum cortisol, com-plete blood cell counts, and shifts in plasma metabolites using untargeted metabolom-ics. Results: The time to complete the 60-km cycling bout differed significantly be-tween the betaine and placebo trials (mean±SE, 112.8±2.3, 114.2±2.6 minutes, respec-tively, (-1.41±0.7 minutes) (effect size=0.457, p=0.049). No trial differences were found for I-FABP (interaction effect, p=0.076), L:13CM (p=0.559), the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (p=0.171), serum cortisol (p=0.982), serum myoglobin (p=0.942), or serum creatine kinase (p=0.694). Untargeted metabolomics showed that 214 metabolites exhibited sig-nificant trial treatment effects and 130 significant trial x time interaction effects. Be-taine versus placebo supplementation was linked to significant increases in plasma betaine, dimethylglycine (DMG), sarcosine, methionine, S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), alpha-ketoglutaramate, and 5’methylthioadensone (MTA), and decreases in plasma carnitine and numerous acylcarnitines. Conclusions: Betaine supplementation modestly improved 60-km cycling performance but had no effect on gut permeability. The metabolomics data supported a strong influence of 2-weeks intake of betaine on the one-carbon metabolism pathway during the 24h recovery period.

Source: Nutrients

DOI: 10.3390/nu17172765

Authors: David Christopher Nieman, Camila A. Sakaguchi, James C. Williams, Jackie Lawson, Kevin C. Lambirth

Institutions: Appalachian State University, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Language: English

Topic: Muscle metabolism and nutrition

Subfield: Cell Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,499