Betaine Supplementation Enhances Force, Power

STORRS, Conn.Supplementation with betaine has positive ergogenic effects in trained male athletes, according to a new study out of the University of Connecticut (J Intl Soc Sports Nutr. 2010;7:27. DOI: 10.1186/1550-2783-7-27). Researchers developed a controlled, randomized crossover trial and recruited 12 healthy, active men with at least three months of resistance training experience to examine whether betaine supplementation could improve power, strength and recovery in sports performance.

Subjects performed an exercise testing protocol at baseline and at studys end, involving high intensity strength/power resistance exercise including vertical jump, squats and bench press. Men received 1.25 g of betaine (as BetaPower Natural Betaine, from Danisco) in 300 mL of Gatorade sports drink twice daily; after a 14-day washout, the men were crossed over to the sports drink alone.

After 14 days of betaine supplementation, there were significant increases in power output for two of the four vertical jumps and in isometric squat force over two days of testing; bench throw power and bench press force were also significantly increased on both days of testing, compared to pre-supplementation values. The researchers noted the positive ergogenic effects merit further research in both endurance and strength/resistance exercise.

Similar results were posted last year, in a study out of The College of New Jersey, Ewing, in which 24 college male athletes consumed betaine (as BetaPower) for two weeks (J Intl Soc Sports Nutr. 2009;6:7. DOI: 10.1186/1550-2783-6-7). Subjects taking the betaine (1.25 g twice per day) were able to perform a significantly greater number of repetitions during squat exercise, at 75 percent of max and at 90 percent or greater of peak power. Lead researcher, Jay Hoffman, Ph.D., said, We really saw a higher quality workout as reflected by greater power generation in exercise repetitions in subjects that had taken the betaine supplement."