Does betaine supplementation increase betaine concentration and alter amino acid profiles in physically active males, and is this affected by MTHFR genotype and dose?
Betaine, a randomized trial in 20 participants (Nutr Res 2024, PMID 38876040) — betaine supplementation increased betaine and decreased homocysteine concentrations in healthy active males, but did not affect amino acid profile or choline concentrations. No differences were found in amino acid profile or choline concentrations.
Source: Nutr Res 2024, PMID 38876040 ↗ · Research map · How Magellan grades evidence · evidence confidence: low
Nutr Res · 2024 · PMID 38876040 · DOI 10.1016/j.nutres.2024.05.003
Betaine supplementation boosts betaine and lowers homocysteine in active men, with MTHFR genotype potentially influencing betaine levels.
The question
Does betaine supplementation increase betaine concentration and alter amino acid profiles in physically active males, and is this affected by MTHFR genotype and dose?
What they tested
Betaine supplementation will increase betaine concentration and alter amino acid profiles in relation to MTHFR genotype and dose in physically active males.
How they did it
This study used a randomized placebo-controlled cross-over design. Blood samples were collected before and after each supplementation period to analyze serum for amino acid profile, homocysteine, betaine, choline, and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) concentrations. A washout analysis included participants who started with betaine (n=20).
What they found
Betaine concentration significantly increased from 4.89 µg/mL to 17.31 µg/mL after supplementation, with a greater increase in MTHFR T-allele carriers compared to CC. Homocysteine concentration decreased from 17.04 µmol/L to 15.44 µmol/L, and TMAO concentrations non-significantly increased from 0.27 µg/ml to 0.44 µg/ml. No differences were found in amino acid profile or choline concentrations. Serum betaine concentrations returned to baseline after a 21-day washout.
| Betaine (Before) | 4.89 | |
|---|---|---|
| Betaine (After) | 17.31 | |
| Homocysteine (Before) | 17.04 | |
| Homocysteine (After) | 15.44 |
Serum betaine concentration increased significantly after supplementation, while homocysteine concentration decreased.
What it means
Betaine supplementation increased betaine and decreased homocysteine concentrations in healthy active males, but did not affect amino acid profile or choline concentrations. The increase in betaine concentrations may be dependent on MTHFR genotype.
Limitations
The abstract does not explicitly state limitations, but the non-significant increase in TMAO and the lack of dose-response analysis could be considered implicit limitations.
Where the published abstract does not list limitations, we say so rather than inventing them. Read the full paper on PubMed before drawing conclusions.
The paper at a glance
| Title | Betaine supplementation modulates betaine concentration by MTHFR genotype in healthy active males |
|---|---|
| Journal | Nutr Res |
| Year | 2024 |
| PMID | 38876040 ↗ |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.nutres.2024.05.003 ↗ |
| Topic | Cardiovascular & vascular aging |
Read the source: PubMed record (authors, abstract, full citation) ↗ · Publisher via doi.org ↗
Where Magellan uses this paper
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Betaine (TMG)
Human trials and meta-analyses consistently show that oral betaine lowers fasting and post-methionine-load plasma homocysteine in a dose-dependent manner (about 1.2 µmol/L on average at 4 g/day and above), and a prescription form is FDA-approved for the rare genetic disorder homocystinuria;
Betaine, also called trimethylglycine (TMG), is a naturally occurring compound found in foods such as…
Research describes the compound or intervention studied. It is not a claim about any specific product.
Molecules & mechanisms in this paper
Each of these is named in the paper’s own words above. Open the monograph for the full mechanism and its other citations.
Cite this page
These citations point at this summary. To cite the original paper with its full author list, use the PubMed record or doi.org.
Magellan Longevity. (2026). Does betaine supplementation increase betaine concentration and alter amino acid profiles in physically active males, and is this affected by MTHFR genotype and dose? [Plain-English summary of Nutr Res 2024, PMID 38876040, DOI 10.1016/j.nutres.2024.05.003]. Magellan Longevity. https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d38876040.html@misc{magellan_d38876040,
title = {Does betaine supplementation increase betaine concentration and alter amino acid profiles in physically active males, and is this affected by MTHFR genotype and dose?},
author = {{Magellan Longevity}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d38876040.html}},
note = {Plain-English summary of PubMed PMID 38876040; DOI 10.1016/j.nutres.2024.05.003; Nutr Res 2024. Reviewed by Gabriel Radu, DO},
urldate = {2026-08-11}
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