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Betaine

Selected research topic

Nutrient status

Some measured outcomes improved in human comparison studies. Read these findings with their populations and conditions.

Findings from a combination study cannot be attributed to this ingredient alone.

Some findings concern patients or people with a deficiency.

Publications for this topic
14
Human comparison publications
3
Publications needing review
6

Findings in the studies

  • Fasting plasma homocysteine

    • A better result than the comparison group was reported.
      General population · Single ingredient · 6 weeks
      Measurement and study conditions
      Study type
      Controlled trial
      Study population
      Human participants · General population
      Ingredients tested
      Single ingredient
      How results were compared
      Results were compared between groups. · Study comparison: Betaine versus placebo for fasting plasma homocysteine after overnight fast
      Additional measurement information
      Primary outcome
      Measurement time
      6 weeks

  • Plasma homocysteine concentration

    • A better result than the comparison group was reported.

      Several ingredients were tested together, so this ingredient’s individual effect is unknown.

      What the comparison group used was not confirmed.

      Combination study
      Measurement and study conditions
      Study type
      Randomized controlled trial: subjects were randomly assigned to groups for comparison.
      Study population
      Human participants · Participant characteristics were not confirmed.
      Ingredients tested
      Ingredient combination
      How results were compared
      Results were compared between groups.
      Measurement time
      Not confirmed.
    • A better result than the comparison group was reported.

      What the comparison group used was not confirmed.

      Single ingredient
      Measurement and study conditions
      Study type
      Randomized controlled trial: subjects were randomly assigned to groups for comparison.
      Study population
      Human participants · Participant characteristics were not confirmed.
      Ingredients tested
      Single ingredient
      How results were compared
      Results were compared between groups.
      Measurement time
      Not confirmed.

  • total area under the plasma homocysteine-time curve after methionine loading

    • A better result than the comparison group was reported.
      General population · Single ingredient · 6 weeks
      Measurement and study conditions
      Study type
      Controlled trial
      Study population
      Human participants · General population
      Ingredients tested
      Single ingredient
      How results were compared
      Results were compared between groups. · Study comparison: Betaine versus placebo after methionine loading
      Additional measurement information
      Secondary outcome
      Measurement time
      6 weeks

  • homocysteine

    Other human research, including observational studies and reviews
    • A change was reported, but the comparison could not be confirmed.
      Single ingredient
      Measurement and study conditions
      Study type
      Randomized controlled trial: subjects were randomly assigned to groups for comparison.
      Study population
      Human participants · Participant characteristics were not confirmed.
      Ingredients tested
      Single ingredient
      Measurement time
      Not confirmed.
    Research with unclear study subject or type
    • A change was reported, but the comparison could not be confirmed.
      Single ingredient
      Measurement and study conditions
      Study type
      Meta-analysis
      Study population
      Recorded population category: General population. Whether the research involved humans needs confirmation.
      Ingredients tested
      Single ingredient
      How results were compared
      Study comparison: Betaine supplementation versus study comparators across included studies; dose subgroup findings wer
      Additional measurement information
      Biomarker
      Measurement time
      Not confirmed.
Other measured outcomes (3)

  • Homocysteine concentration

    Other human research, including observational studies and reviews
    • A change was reported, but the comparison could not be confirmed.
      Patient group · Single ingredient
      Measurement and study conditions
      Study type
      Randomized controlled trial: subjects were randomly assigned to groups for comparison.
      Study population
      Human participants · Patient group
      Ingredients tested
      Single ingredient
      Measurement time
      Not confirmed.

  • tHcy

    Other human research, including observational studies and reviews
    • An association was observed. This does not establish that the ingredient caused the change.
      General population · Single ingredient
      Measurement and study conditions
      Study type
      Observational study
      Study population
      Human participants · General population
      Ingredients tested
      Single ingredient
      How results were compared
      Comparison unclear · Study comparison: individual betaine intake; combined betaine+choline had only a weak trend
      Additional measurement information
      Biomarker
      Measurement time
      Not confirmed.

  • post-methionine load tHcy

    Research with unclear study subject or type
    • A change was reported, but the comparison could not be confirmed.
      Single ingredient
      Measurement and study conditions
      Study type
      Review
      Study population
      Recorded population category: Deficiency group. Whether the research involved humans needs confirmation.
      Ingredients tested
      Single ingredient
      How results were compared
      Study comparison: review-level summary of betaine supplementation and post-methionine load
      Additional measurement information
      Biomarker
      Measurement time
      Not confirmed.

This result is held for interpretation. That does not mean research found no effect.

Outcome groups needing additional review (2)
  • homocysteine concentrations · Distinct papers needing additional review: 1Direction unclear: 1
  • increased plasma homocysteine · Distinct papers needing additional review: 1Evidence criteria check: 1

One paper can appear under multiple measured outcomes or review reasons, so these counts should not be added together.

Representative outcome and study details

Human studies reported a change with no confirmed comparison group in homocysteine; while Studies with an unspecified organism reported a change with no confirmed comparison group in homocysteine.

These conditions come from related studies and may not describe a single paper.

Single-ingredient studies · Human studies · Population not specified · comparator not confirmed

2 publications linked to this result

  • Study conditions differ; results are shown descriptively and are not pooled.
Data coverage and detailed study classifications

Paper counts are separated by research topic below. One paper may contribute to multiple findings.

Analysis status: Public-ready

Ingredient analysis date:

How the grade was determined: B

The 62.7 evidence score includes 3 independent human studies and 3 clinical studies in the representative benefit area. The B tier remains conservative because of the evidence centers on contextual or measured outcomes rather than general-use effects, limited repetition across independent human clinical studies.

The grade is based mainly on the research area with the most evidence. It does not mean the same result was found in other areas.

Papers linked to this ingredient overall: 60

Papers linked to this topic 14 · distinct papers 14 · papers with a confirmed human comparison 3 · papers needing additional review 6

A publication may appear in more than one count. These numbers should not be added. Ingredient-wide papers, topic-linked papers, and sources in outcome groups use different scopes. Adding source counts may count the same paper more than once.

  • Fasting plasma homocysteine: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 1
  • homocysteine: Sources represented in this measurement group: 2 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
  • Homocysteine concentration: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
  • homocysteine concentrations: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
  • increased plasma homocysteine: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
  • Plasma homocysteine concentration: Sources represented in this measurement group: 2 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 2
  • post-methionine load tHcy: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
  • tHcy: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
  • total area under the plasma homocysteine-time curve after methionine loading: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 1

What the research found

Fasting plasma homocysteine

The study reported improvement in this measurement.

Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · General population

Between-group comparison

Analysis coverage and paper counts

1 paper · 1 measured outcome

Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.

plasma homocysteine concentration

The study reported improvement in this measurement.

Controlled study in people · Ingredient combination · Unspecified population

Several ingredients were used together. This does not establish the effect of this ingredient alone or synergy.

Between-group comparison

Analysis coverage and paper counts

1 paper · 1 measured outcome

Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.

Plasma homocysteine concentration

The study reported improvement in this measurement.

Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · Unspecified population

Between-group comparison

Analysis coverage and paper counts

1 paper · 1 measured outcome

Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.

total area under the plasma homocysteine-time curve after methionine loading

The study reported improvement in this measurement.

Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · General population

Between-group comparison

Analysis coverage and paper counts

1 paper · 1 measured outcome

Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.

tHcy

An association was observed. This does not establish that the ingredient caused the change.

Observational study · Single ingredient · General population

The comparison could not be confirmed.

Analysis coverage and paper counts

1 paper · 1 measured outcome

Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.

homocysteine

A change was reported, but the comparison could not be confirmed.

Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · Unspecified population

Analysis coverage and paper counts

1 paper · 1 measured outcome

Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.

homocysteine

A change was reported, but the comparison could not be confirmed.

Meta-analysis · Single ingredient · General population

Analysis coverage and paper counts

1 paper · 1 measured outcome

Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.

Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.

Homocysteine concentration

A change was reported, but the comparison could not be confirmed.

Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · Patient group

Analysis coverage and paper counts

1 paper · 1 measured outcome

Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.

post-methionine load tHcy

A change was reported, but the comparison could not be confirmed.

Review · Single ingredient · Deficiency group

Analysis coverage and paper counts

1 paper · 1 measured outcome

Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.

Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.

homocysteine concentrations

The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.

Controlled study in people · Ingredient combination · General population

Several ingredients were used together. This does not establish the effect of this ingredient alone or synergy.

The comparison could not be confirmed.

Analysis coverage and paper counts

1 paper · 1 measured outcome

1 papers held from direction counts

Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.

increased plasma homocysteine

The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.

Review · Single ingredient · Patient group

The comparison could not be confirmed.

Analysis coverage and paper counts

1 paper · 1 measured outcome

1 papers held from direction counts

Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.

Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.

Unspecified measured outcome

The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.

Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · Unspecified population

Between-group comparison

Analysis coverage and paper counts

1 paper · 1 measured outcome

1 papers held from direction counts

Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.

Unspecified measured outcome

The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.

Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · Patient group

The comparison could not be confirmed.

Analysis coverage and paper counts

1 paper · 1 measured outcome

1 papers held from direction counts

Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.

Unspecified measured outcome

The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.

Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · Unspecified population

The comparison could not be confirmed.

Analysis coverage and paper counts

1 paper · 1 measured outcome

1 papers held from direction counts

Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.

Unspecified measured outcome

The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.

Other evidence · Unknown intervention · Patient group

The comparison could not be confirmed.

Analysis coverage and paper counts

1 paper · 1 measured outcome

1 papers held from direction counts

Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.

How to read research findings

How should I read research findings?

Research guides

Side effects and combination findings

Findings from this ingredient alone are shown separately from those involving another supplement or medication.

No reviewed caution rules are available yet. Reported caution findings are shown below.

Findings to review with care

Side effects reported for the ingredient alone are separated from findings involving another supplement or medication.

Side effects reported with this ingredient alone

Symptoms or adverse events reported in studies without another active ingredient.

ALT1 papers
Betaine at doses of 2–8 g/day for 12–24 weeks significantly reduced ALT and other liver injury markers in 70 participants with MASLD, with mild transient GI symptoms reported in ~35 %.Human studies · Randomized controlled trial