Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, 81746-7344, Iran.
Department of Exercise Physiology, College of Health 587 Sciences, University of Lynchburg, Lynchburg, 24501, VA, USA.
J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2021 Jun 5;18(1):42. doi: 10.1186/s12970-021-00441-5.
Systemic elevations in pro-inflammatory cytokines are a marker of non-functional over reaching, and betaine has been shown to reduce the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines in vitro. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of betaine supplementation on tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukins-1 beta (IL-1β), - 6 (IL-6) and the complete blood cell (CBC) count in professional youth soccer players during a competitive season.
Twenty-nine soccer players (age, 15.5 ± 0.3 years) were randomly divided into two groups based on playing position: betaine group (BG, n = 14, 2 g/day) or placebo group (PG, n = 15). During the 14-week period, training load was matched and well-being indicators were monitored daily. The aforementioned cytokines and CBC were assessed at pre- (P1), mid- (P2), and post- (P3) season.
Significant (p < 0.05) group x time interactions were found for TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. These variables were lower in the BG at P2 and P3 compared to P1, while IL-1β was greater in the PG at P3 compared to P1 (p = 0.033). The CBC count analysis showed there was significant group by time interactions for white blood cells (WBC), red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). WBC demonstrated increases at P3 compared to P2 in PG (p = 0.034); RBC was less at P3 compared to P1 in BG (p = 0.020); Hb was greater at P2 compared to P1, whilst it was less at P3 compared to P3 for both groups. MCHC was greater at P3 and P2 compared to P1 in BG, whereas MCHC was significantly lower at P3 compared to P2 in the PG (p = 0.003).
The results confirmed that 14 weeks of betaine supplementation prevented an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines and WBC counts. It seems that betaine supplementation may be a useful nutritional strategy to regulate the immune response during a fatiguing soccer season.
全身促炎细胞因子的升高是无功能过度训练的标志物，而甜菜碱已被证明可减少体外促炎细胞因子的分泌。本研究旨在探讨补充甜菜碱对职业青年足球运动员在比赛赛季中肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）、白细胞介素-1β（IL-1β）、-6（IL-6）和全血细胞（CBC）计数的影响。
根据比赛位置，将 29 名足球运动员（年龄 15.5±0.3 岁）随机分为两组：甜菜碱组（BG，n=14，每天 2g）或安慰剂组（PG，n=15）。在 14 周期间，匹配训练负荷并每天监测健康指标。在赛季前（P1）、中期（P2）和后期（P3）评估上述细胞因子和 CBC。
TNF-α、IL-1β和 IL-6 存在显著的（p<0.05）组间时间交互作用。与 P1 相比，BG 在 P2 和 P3 时这些变量较低，而 PG 在 P3 时 IL-1β 较高（p=0.033）。CBC 计数分析显示，白细胞（WBC）、红细胞（RBC）、血红蛋白（Hb）和平均红细胞血红蛋白浓度（MCHC）存在显著的组间时间交互作用。PG 在 P3 时与 P2 相比 WBC 增加（p=0.034）；BG 在 P3 时 RBC 较 P1 时减少（p=0.020）；Hb 在 P2 时较 P1 时增加，而在 P3 时较 P3 时减少，两组均如此。BG 在 P3 和 P2 时 MCHC 均高于 P1，而 PG 在 P3 时 MCHC 明显低于 P2（p=0.003）。
结果证实，14 周的甜菜碱补充可防止促炎细胞因子和 WBC 计数的增加。甜菜碱补充似乎是一种调节疲劳赛季免疫反应的有用营养策略。
