Betaine Supplementation and Muscle Performance
Author Information
Author(s): Hoffman Jay R, Ratamess Nicholas A, Kang Jie, Rashti Stefanie L, Faigenbaum Avery D
Primary Institution: The College of New Jersey
Hypothesis
Does betaine supplementation improve muscle endurance and power performance in active college-aged men?
Conclusion
Two weeks of betaine supplementation improved muscle endurance in the squat exercise but did not enhance power performance.
Supporting Evidence
- Betaine supplementation led to a greater number of repetitions performed in the squat exercise.
- No significant differences were observed in upper body exercises between the betaine and placebo groups.
- Improvements in muscle endurance were noted within one week of starting betaine supplementation.
Takeaway
Taking betaine for two weeks helps you do more squats, but it doesn't make you stronger in other exercises like the bench press.
Methodology
Twenty-four male subjects were randomly assigned to receive either betaine or a placebo for 15 days, with performance tests conducted before and after supplementation.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the small sample size and the specific demographic of college-aged males.
Limitations
The study only assessed the effects on lower body exercises and did not measure muscle creatine concentrations.
Participant Demographics
Twenty-four male college students, average age 20.9 years, recreationally active.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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