Abstract

PurposeTo examine the effect of betaine supplementation on cycling sprint performance.MethodsSixteen recreationally active subjects (7 females and 9 males) completed three sprint tests, each consisting of four 12 sec efforts against a resistance equal to 5.5% of body weight; efforts were separated by 2.5 min of cycling at zero resistance. Test one established baseline; test two and three were preceded by seven days of daily consumption of 591 ml of a carbohydrate-electrolyte beverage as a placebo or a carbohydrate-electrolyte beverage containing 0.42% betaine (approximately 2.5 grams of betaine a day); half the beverage was consumed in the morning and the other half in the afternoon. We used a double blind random order cross-over design; there was a 3 wk washout between trials two and three. Average and maximum peak and mean power were analyzed with one-way repeated measures ANOVA and, where indicated, a Student Newman-Keuls.ResultsCompared to baseline, betaine ingestion increased average peak power (6.4%; p < 0.001), maximum peak power (5.7%; p < 0.001), average mean power (5.4%; p = 0.004), and maximum mean power (4.4%; p = 0.004) for all subjects combined. Compared to placebo, betaine ingestion significantly increased average peak power (3.4%; p = 0.026), maximum peak power max (3.8%; p = 0.007), average mean power (3.3%; p = 0.034), and maximum mean power (3.5%; p = 0.011) for all subjects combined. There were no differences between the placebo and baseline trials.ConclusionsOne week of betaine ingestion improved cycling sprint power in recreationally active males and females.

Highlights

  • Betaine is a nutrient found in a variety of animals, plants, and microorganisms [1]

  • Betaine ingestion increased average peak power (6.4%; p < 0.001), maximum peak power (5.7%; p < 0.001), average mean power (5.4%; p = 0.004), and maximum mean power (4.4%; p = 0.004) for all subjects combined

  • We found that one week of betaine ingestion (2.5 g.d-1) improved sprint performance by 5.5 ± 0.8% compared to baseline and 3.5 ± 0.2% compared to the carbohydrate placebo

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Summary

Introduction

Betaine is a nutrient found in a variety of animals, plants, and microorganisms [1]. It is a component of many foods, with whole grains (e.g., wheat, rye), spinach, shellfish and beets [2] being rich sources. Since betaine is an osmolyte that protects cells under stress [6,7], initial studies on the potential ergogenicity focused on the acute effects of betaine ingestion on performance in the heat [8,9]. Subjects completed a 15 min cycling time trial after riding for 2 hr at 60-75% VO2max in the heat [9]; immediately after the time trial, isometric leg strength was examined. Isometric leg strength was significantly greater after the betaine trials compared to the non-betaine trials

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