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Betaine Effect in Speed-strength Athletes

The Effect of Betaine Supplementation on Body Composition and Physical Capacity of Speed-strength Male Athletes

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
Phase 2Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03702205
Enrollment
80
Registered
2018-10-10
Start date
2018-10-15
Completion date
2021-10-12
Last updated
2020-09-16

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Sport, Supplementation

Brief summary

The study is aimed at assessing the influence of two betaine doses (2.5 g∙d-1 and 5 g∙d-1) supplemented for three weeks in a group of speed-strength trained athletes on anaerobic capacity in Wingate test, performance in CrossFit-like exercise test - Fight Gone Bad, alterations in body compositions and total body water.

Detailed description

The main aim of the project is the assessment of the effects of 3 weeks supplementation with two doses of betaine (2.5 g∙d-1 and 5 g∙d-1) on anaerobic capacity, CrossFit performance, body composition, and betaine metabolism in a group of male speed-strength trained athletes. The study is designed as a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial. 80 male participants will be divided randomly into two parallel groups: one receiving 2.5 g·d-1 betaine and the second receiving 5 g·d-1 betaine. In both experimental groups participants will receive both betaine supplement or placebo in a random order. The supplementation periods (betaine and placebo) will last for three weeks each and will be separated by a 3-week washout. The participants will attend four study meetings at the Institute of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poland. Food intake before and during the intervention will be assessed with the use of food diary and intakes of macro- and micronutrients will be calculated with the use of Dieta 5.0 software. On each visit Wingate ergocycling test will be performed, body composition will be measured and blood samples will be taken. The same day in the afternoon/evening hours the Fight Gone Bad (FGB) test will be performed. Body composition will be assessed based on air displacement plethysmography technology using the Bod Pod®. Moreover, total body water content will be analyzed by bioelectric impedance with the use of a BIA 101S analyzer. Anaerobic capacity will be assessed using the classical Wingate test on a cycloergometer. In order to assess CrossFit performance the FGB test will be performed. In blood samples the investigators plan to analyze concentrations of: lipoproteins and triglycerides (biochemical analyzer), betaine (LC-MS method), amino acid profile (LC-MS method), and testosterone (ELISA). MTHFR genotype will be analyzed with using a PCR-RFLP method. Data will be analyzed using the STATISTICA 12 software program.

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTBetaine supplementation

Group taking oral betaine supplementation

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTPlacebo treatment

Group taking oral supplementation with placebo (starch) in a similar capsule form.

Sponsors

National Science Centre, Poland
CollaboratorOTHER_GOV
Poznan University of Life Sciences
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
18 Years to 35 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* written informed consent from all participants before the study * a current medical clearance to practice sports, * training experience: at least 1 year (of CrossFit ttraining), * minimum of 2 workout sessions (combat sport) a week,

Exclusion criteria

* current injury, * any health-related contraindication, * declared general feeling of being unwell, * unwilling to follow the study protocol, * serious disease or metabolic problems, * intake of betaine, choline or creatine supplements 4 weeks before the beginning of the study.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Changes in fat mass and fat free mass after betaine supplementationBaseline and after 3 weeksFat mass (kg) and fat free mass (kg) analysis
Changes in anaerobic capacity after betaine supplementationBaseline and after 3 weeksThe Wingate cycling test (W)
Changes in specific performance capacity after betaine supplementationBaseline and after 3 weeksThe CrossFit-specific physical fitness test: Fight Gone Bad (reps.)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Changes in blood betaineBaseline and after 3 weeksBlood betaine (µmol/L)
Changes in total body water after betaine supplementationBaseline and after 3 weeksTotal body water content (%)
Difference in response to betaine supplementation depending on MTHFR (rs1801133) polymorphismBaseline and after 3 weeksMTHFR (rs1801133) polymorphism
Changes in total, LDL and HDL cholesterol and triacylglycerol after betaine supplementationBaseline and after 3 weeksTotal, LDL and HDL cholesterol (mg/dL) and triacylglycerol (mg/dL)
Changes in testosterone level (ng/L) after betaine supplementationBaseline and after 3 weeksTestosterone level (ng/L)
Changes in amino acid profile after betaine supplementationBaseline and after 3 weeksAmino acid profile (μmol/L)

Countries

Poland

Contacts

Primary ContactEmilia E Zawieja, MSc
emilia.zawieja@up.poznan.pl+48 61 846 60 57
Backup ContactKrzysztof Durkalec-Michalski, PhD
durkmich@up.poznan.pl+48 618 487 338

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 9, 2026