Betaine Supplementation Improves 60 km Cycling Time Trial Performance and One-Carbon Metabolism in Cyclists During Recovery.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study examined the effects of 2 weeks of betaine versus placebo supplementation (3 g/d) on 60 km cycling performance, gut permeability, and shifts in plasma metabolites.

METHODS

Participants included 21 male and female non-elite cyclists. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover design was used with two 2-week supplementation periods and a 2-week washout period. Supplementation periods were followed by a 60 km cycling time trial. Six blood samples were collected before and after supplementation (overnight fasted state), and at 0 h, 1.5 h, 3 h, and 24 h post-exercise. Five-hour urine samples were collected pre-supplementation and post-60 km cycling after ingesting a sugar solution containing lactulose 5 g, C mannitol 100 mg, and C mannitol 1.9 g in 450 mL water. Other outcome measures included plasma intestinal fatty acid binding protein-1 (I-FABP), muscle damage biomarkers (serum creatine kinase, myoglobin), serum cortisol, complete blood cell counts, and shifts in plasma metabolites using untargeted metabolomics.

RESULTS

The time to complete the 60 km cycling bout differed significantly between the betaine and placebo trials (mean ± SE, 112.8 ± 2.3, 114.2 ± 2.6 min, respectively, (-1.41 ± 0.7 min) (effect size = 0.475, = 0.042). No trial differences were found for I-FABP (interaction effect, = 0.076), L:CM ( = 0.559), the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio ( = 0.171), serum cortisol ( = 0.982), serum myoglobin ( = 0.942), or serum creatine kinase ( = 0.694). Untargeted metabolomics showed that 214 metabolites exhibited significant trial treatment effects and 130 significant trial x time interaction effects. Betaine versus placebo supplementation was linked to significant increases in plasma betaine, dimethylglycine (DMG), sarcosine, methionine, S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), alpha-ketoglutaramate, and 5'methylthioadensone (MTA), and decreases in plasma carnitine and numerous acylcarnitines.

CONCLUSIONS

Betaine supplementation modestly improved 60 km cycling performance but had no effect on gut permeability. The metabolomics data supported a strong influence of 2-week intake of betaine on the one-carbon metabolism pathway during the 24 h recovery period.