Written by Jessica Patella, ND. A review of human studies showed that supplementation with betaine was associated with a 5 to 8% reduced risk of heart disease and 10-15% reduced risk of stroke.
Homocysteine is an amino acid that has been associated with cardiovascular disease and stroke (4). Since cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, there is constant research on its cause and prevention (5). Recent research has found that supplementing with betaine decreases levels of homocysteine in healthy adults and therefore may reduce the risk of heart disease (1).
Betaine is found naturally in spinach, beets and wheat products. The Framingham Offspring Study found that the higher the intake of these foods, the lower the levels of homocysteine (2). The study also found that low levels of betaine increased the risk of heart failure and heart attack (2).
The recent meta-analysis included five different studies conducted between 2002 and 2010. There were a total of 206 participants, 124 in the betaine group and 119 in the control group, with an age range of 27 to 59 years and 60.2% women. All participants were healthy adults with normal homocysteine levels (baseline levels ranged from 8.4 to 12.7 micro-mol/L) (1).
Betaine supplementation for four of the five trials was 6 grams per day, while the other trial used 4 grams per day. The study duration varied from 6 to 24 weeks (1).
All five trials showed a reduction in homocysteine levels with four of the trials showing a significant reduction (P<0.05) compared to placebo (1). When combining all five studies, supplementation of 4 to 6 grams per day of betaine in healthy adults lowered homocysteine levels by 11.8% (or 1.23 micromol/L) (1). This reduction translates to a 5-8% reduced risk of heart disease and 10-15% reduced risk of stroke (1).
No serious adverse events were reported in any of the studies. It is important to note that in two of the studies, total cholesterol and LDL (“bad” cholesterol) were significantly increased by about 5 mg/dL, which translates to an estimated 3-6% increased risk of developing heart disease (3). However, the other studies did not have significant changes in cholesterol levels (1).
In conclusion, the meta-analysis showed that supplementing with 4-6 grams of betaine per day significantly lowered homocysteine levels in healthy adults. Future research should be conducted in patients with elevated homocysteine levels to determine the effects of betaine and long-term reduction of heart disease risk (1). The normal betaine in the diet is 1 to 2.5 grams(6) and a typical supplement supplies 648 mg(7).
Source: McRae, Marc P. “Betaine supplementation decreases plasma homocysteine in healthy adult participants: a meta-analysis.” Journal of chiropractic medicine 12, no. 1 (2013): 20-25.
© 2013 National University of Health Sciences
Posted September 30, 2013.
Jessica Patella, ND, is a naturopathic physician specializing in nutrition and homeopathic medicine and offers a holistic approach to health. She earned her ND from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, AZ, and is a member of the North Carolina Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Visit her website at www.awarenesswellness.com.
References:
- McRae M. Betaine supplementation decreases plasma homocysteine in healthy adult participants: a meta-analysis. 2013 J of Chiropractic Med 12, 20-25.
- Lee JE, et al. Are dietary choline and betaine intakes determinants of total homocysteine concentrations? Am J Clin Nutr 2010;91(5): 1303-10.
- Menotti A, et al. The relationship of age, blood pressure, serum cholesterol and smoking habits with the risk of typical and atypical coronary heart disease death in European cohorts of the Seven Countries Study. Int J Cardiol 2006; 106(2): 157-63.
- Lonn E. Homocysteine in the prevention of ischemic heart disease, stroke and venous thromboembolism: therapeutic target or just another distraction? Curr Opin Hematol 2007; 14(5): 481-94.
- Roger, V.L., et al. Heart disease and stroke statistics 2012 update: a report from the American Heart Association. 2012 Circulation 125, e2–e220.
- Craig, Stuart AS. Betaine in Human Nutrition Am J Clin Nutr 2004:80(3) 530-549.
- Now Foods Catalogue.
