Betaine enhances muscle building hormones

Betaine was the final ingredient we added to 3Fuel. We covered our macros first (like any diet should), but we wanted to add something to give us a little extra push. We’ve always liked the science behind this stuff, but more importantly, we’ve liked the way it worked to help us recover. So, when another study showing its efficacy was published a few short months after we put it in our product, we were thrilled. Although we caution athletes to read too much into acute studies that measure things like “protein synthesis” and “myotropic signalling”, instead of more relevant endpoints like “pounds of muscle gained” and “reps added”, we can’t help but be excited when one of our ingredients is further shown to enhance the metabolic responses that lead to muscle gains and performance increases.

Eur J Appl Physiol. 2012 Sep 14. [Epub ahead of print]

Betaine supplementation enhances anabolic endocrine and Akt signaling in response to acute bouts of exercise.

Apicella JM, Lee EC, Bailey BL, Saenz C, Anderson JM, Craig SA, Kraemer WJ, Volek JS, Maresh CM.

Source

Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, 2095 Hillside Road, Unit 1110, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA.

Abstract

Our aim was to examine the effect of betaine supplementation on selected circulating hormonal measures and Akt muscle signaling proteins after an acute exercise session. Twelve trained men (age 19.7 ± 1.23 years) underwent 2 weeks of supplementation with either betaine (B) (1.25 g BID) or placebo (P). Following a 2-week washout period, subjects underwent supplementation with the other treatment (B or P). Before and after each 2-week period, subjects performed an acute exercise session (AES). Circulating GH, IGF-1, cortisol, and insulin were measured. Vastus lateralis samples were analyzed for signaling proteins (Akt, p70 S6k, AMPK). B (vs. P) supplementation approached a significant increase in GH (mean ± SD (Area under the curve, AUC), B: 40.72 ± 6.14, P: 38.28 ± 5.54, p = 0.060) and significantly increased IGF-1 (mean ± SD (AUC), B: 106.19 ± 13.45, P: 95.10 ± 14.23, p = 0.010), but significantly decreased cortisol (mean ± SD (AUC), B: 1,079.18 ± 110.02, P: 1,228.53 ± 130.32, p = 0.007). There was no difference in insulin (AUC). B increased resting Total muscle Akt (p = 0.003). B potentiated phosphorylation (relative to P) of Akt (Ser(473)) and p70 S6 k (Thr(389)) (p = 0.016 and p = 0.005, respectively). Phosphorylation of AMPK (Thr(172)) decreased during both treatments (both p = 0.001). Betaine (vs. placebo) supplementation enhanced both the anabolic endocrine profile and the corresponding anabolic signaling environment, suggesting increased protein synthesis.