Betaine Supplementation Shown to Improve Muscle Endurance

Subjects given BetaPower showed a significant improvement in lower body muscle endurance and quality of the workout compared to those participants that were not given supplementation.

13 Aug 2009 A recently published study in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition revealed that supplementation with BetaPower Natural Betaine—betaine anhydrous—increased leg muscle endurance and quality of workout in test subjects. Results of the research suggest that betaine may affect “motor unit recruitment” or burst-like power in active individuals. Betaine is found in a variety of foods and contributes to several important metabolic functions. As an osmolyte, betaine plays a key role in protecting cells against dehydration and stress-related water loss. This natural nutrient also contributes to many important cellular functions.

Researchers in the department of Health and Exercise Science at The College of New Jersey, Ewing, N.J., examined the effect of natural betaine supplementation on power performance and fatigue in active college-aged men. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was conducted with 24 active male students. All of the subjects participated in various power, muscle endurance and anaerobic power exercise tests during a two week period. Those subjects given BetaPower showed a significant improvement in lower body muscle endurance and quality of the workout compared to those participants that were not given supplementation.

Lead researcher, Jay Hoffman, Ph.D., says, “We really saw a higher quality workout as reflected by greater power generation in exercise repetitions in subjects that had taken the betaine supplement.” In previous endurance studies with subjects given natural betaine, positive results had been shown after two weeks of supplementation. Because of this, Dr. Hoffman and his fellow researchers also examined results at seven days to see if the betaine supplementation would take affect at an earlier point. They found similar positive results at seven days and 14 days.

“This study is one of several that Danisco has supported to determine the benefits of natural betaine on physical performance,” explains Mika Paulamaki, global business manager, BioActives, Danisco, Finland. “Danisco is committed to research and science to understand the biochemical and physiological mechanisms that contribute to BetaPower’s benefits to clinical nutrition. Our strategy is to market products that are backed by clinical studies. The research results together with the previous performance studies support the use of natural betaine as a valuable ingredient for health and sports nutrition products.” The published safety studies that have been conducted with betaine were conducted with BetaPower Natural Betaine.

BetaPower is a natural form of high-purity anhydrous betaine, marketed exclusively by Danisco. It is derived from the molasses of sugar beets. Also known as trimethylglycine or TMG, betaine has a long history of use in human and animal nutrition. More recently, betaine has been the subject of a range of studies pointing to several health and performance benefits in humans.

Human trials conducted with BetaPower have shown a significant improvement in physical performance, especially in strength and power. These observed benefits of BetaPower present a wealth of opportunities for the development of targeted health and sports nutrition products across a range of applications. BetaPower is the only betaine available with clinical documentation of its efficacy in physical performance.