Betaine for Exercise Performance

No longer recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Camila A Sakaguchi Olson, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Appalachian State University

Must not be taking: NSAIDs

Disqualifiers: Gastrointestinal disease, Cardiovascular disease, Diabetes, Cancer, others

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 8

Duration: 2 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial examines whether taking 3 grams of betaine daily can enhance cyclists' performance, reduce exercise-induced gut issues, and improve post-workout recovery. Participants will be divided into two groups: one taking betaine and the other a placebo (a substance with no active ingredients). It suits healthy cyclists who can ride 60 km at a competitive pace and have no major health issues. As an unphased trial, this study allows cyclists to contribute to research that could enhance athletic performance and recovery.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

You may need to stop taking certain medications, especially those that influence inflammation like NSAIDs, for at least two weeks before and during the study. The protocol does not specify all medications, so it's best to discuss your current medications with the study team.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research shows that betaine is usually safe as a supplement. Studies have examined its effects on exercise performance, strength, and endurance, finding no major side effects. For instance, short-term use of betaine can enhance muscle endurance without harm.

One study found that participants using pre-workout supplements containing betaine reported no safety problems, suggesting its general safety in the short term. While these studies focus on various aspects of exercise, they consistently report no major safety issues.

Overall, current evidence suggests that betaine is a safe supplement for enhancing exercise performance. However, individuals should consider their health and consult a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Betaine is unique because it's derived from beet molasses and is being studied for its potential to enhance exercise performance. Unlike other supplements like creatine or caffeine, which are common in athletic performance enhancement, betaine may work by improving muscle endurance and strength through its role in methylation processes. This natural compound is exciting researchers because it might offer a new, natural way to boost athletic performance without the jittery side effects often associated with stimulants.

What evidence suggests that betaine might be an effective treatment for improving exercise performance?

This trial will compare the effects of Betaine with a placebo on exercise performance. Research has shown that betaine can boost exercise performance. In one study, taking betaine for six weeks improved body composition and increased the weight participants could lift on a bench press. Another review found that betaine might enhance endurance during exercise. Short-term use of betaine also helped participants perform more squat repetitions. While results can vary, these findings suggest that betaine might improve physical performance. ^{1 3 4 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

David C Nieman, DrPH

Principal Investigator

Appalachian State Univ

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for male and female cyclists aged 18-65 who can cycle 60 km at a certain intensity. They must not smoke, be generally healthy without chronic diseases like heart disease or diabetes, and agree to dietary restrictions and exercise tapering before lab sessions.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 18-65 years old and can cycle 60km at a challenging pace.

Agree to restrict beet, wheat bran, wheat germ, and spinach diet intake and avoid other betaine supplements during the entire 6-week study

Categorized as 'low risk' using the American College of Sports Medicine screening questionnaire

Exclusion Criteria

Any other concurrent condition which, in the opinion of the principal investigator (PI), would preclude participation in this study or interfere with compliance

Inability to comply with study requirements

History of sensitivity to betaine and beets

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Baseline Testing/Pre-Supplementation

Participants undergo baseline testing and receive a 2-week supply of betaine or placebo capsules

1 week

2 visits (in-person)

Treatment

Participants ingest 3 g/day betaine or placebo for 2 weeks and complete a 60-km cycling session

2 weeks

4 visits (in-person)

Washout/Crossover

Participants undergo a 2-week washout period and crossover to the opposite supplement arm

2 weeks

No visits

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in gut permeability and exercise performance

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Betaine
• Placebo

Trial Overview The study tests if taking betaine (3 g/d) improves cycling performance, reduces gut permeability from exercise, and aids metabolic recovery compared to a placebo. Participants will prepare with two weeks of either betaine or placebo before a demanding 60-km cycling trial.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Betaine Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

3 grams per day in 6 capsules, white crystalline betaine powder produced from beet molasses

Group II: Placebo Placebo Group 1 Intervention

3 grams per day in 6 capsules, white cellulose powder

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Appalachian State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

46

Recruited

2,600+

AGRANA

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

20+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3844502/

Effects of betaine on body composition, performance, and ... Six-weeks of betaine supplementation improved body composition, arm size, bench press work capacity, attenuated the rise in urinary HCTL, and tended to improve ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12325877/

Effects of betaine supplementation on endurance exercise ... This systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of betaine supplementation on endurance exercise performance. Five studies (three parallel-design and two ...

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022316624010186

Decoding Betaine: A Critical Analysis of Therapeutic ... Effectiveness in physical performance: betaine shows promise in enhancing physical performance, but might not be effective as a compound in preworkout ...

4. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2079-7737/11/8/1140

Effects of 6-Week Betaine Supplementation on Muscular ... The present study aimed to investigate the effects of betaine supplementation on muscular power and maximal strength in collegiate male athletes.

5. tandfonline.com tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15502783.2022.2041988

Effects of short-term betaine supplementation on muscle ... [Citation8] showed that 15 days of betaine supplementation (2.5 g/day) improved squat exercise repetitions to fatigue with 75% of 1RM, without similar ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9404903/

Effects of 6-Week Betaine Supplementation on Muscular ... Betaine supplementation has ergogenic potential for exercise performance, but the effect of betaine supplementation in combination with training ...

7. jissn.biomedcentral.com jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1550-2783-7-27

Ergogenic effects of betaine supplementation on strength and ... In the current study, the primary effect of the betaine supplement was observed in the upper body, with enhanced bench press force and power ...