Creatine but not betaine supplementation increases muscle phosphorylcreatine content and strength performance.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to investigate the effects of betaine supplementation on muscle phosphorylcreatine (PCr) content and strength performance in untrained subjects, comparing it to creatine and a combination of both.
Results Summary
Betaine supplementation did not increase muscle PCr content or improve strength and power performance in untrained subjects, either alone or combined with creatine. Creatine alone or combined with betaine significantly increased PCr content and muscle power output.
Population
Untrained subjects
Effective Dosage
2 g/day (betaine), 20 g/day (creatine), 2+20 g/day (betaine + creatine)
Duration
10 days
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
creatine (CR; 20 g/day) | increase | muscle PCr content | untrained subjects | - | presented greater increase | #1 |
betaine plus creatine (BET+CR; 2+20 g/day, respectively) | increase | muscle PCr content | untrained subjects | - | presented greater increase | #2 |
betaine (BET; 2 g/day) | no change | PCr content | untrained subjects | - | comparable | #3 |
creatine (CR; 20 g/day) | increase | muscle power output in the squat exercise | untrained subjects | - | presented greater muscle power output | #4 |
betaine plus creatine (BET+CR; 2+20 g/day, respectively) | increase | muscle power output in the squat exercise | untrained subjects | - | presented greater muscle power output | #5 |
creatine (CR; 20 g/day) | increase | bench press average power | untrained subjects | - | significantly greater | #6 |
creatine (CR; 20 g/day) | increase | 1-RM squat | untrained subjects | - | significant pre- to post-test increase | #7 |
creatine (CR; 20 g/day) | increase | 1-RM bench press | untrained subjects | - | significant pre- to post-test increase | #8 |
betaine plus creatine (BET+CR; 2+20 g/day, respectively) | increase | 1-RM squat | untrained subjects | - | significant pre- to post-test increase | #9 |
betaine plus creatine (BET+CR; 2+20 g/day, respectively) | increase | 1-RM bench press | untrained subjects | - | significant pre- to post-test increase | #10 |
betaine (BET; 2 g/day) | no change | 1-RM strength and power | untrained subjects | - | No significant differences | #11 |
betaine (BET; 2 g/day) | no change | muscle PCr content | untrained subjects | - | does not augment | #12 |
betaine supplementation combined or not with creatine supplementation | no change | strength and power performance | untrained subjects | - | does not affect | #13 |
betaine (BET; 2 g/day) | no change | body composition | untrained subjects | - | did not differ | #14 |
creatine (CR; 20 g/day) | no change | body composition | untrained subjects | - | did not differ | #15 |
betaine plus creatine (BET+CR; 2+20 g/day, respectively) | no change | body composition | untrained subjects | - | did not differ | #16 |
We aimed to investigate the role of betaine supplementation on muscle phosphorylcreatine (PCr) content and strength performance in untrained subjects. Additionally, we compared the ergogenic and physiological responses to betaine versus creatine supplementation. Finally, we also tested the possible additive effects of creatine and betaine supplementation. This was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Subjects were assigned to receive betaine (BET; 2 g/day), creatine (CR; 20 g/day), betaine plus creatine (BET+CR; 2+20 g/day, respectively) or placebo (PL). At baseline and after 10 days of supplementation, we assessed muscle strength and power, muscle PCr content, and body composition. The CR and BET+CR groups presented greater increase in muscle PCr content than PL (p=0.004 and p=0.006, respectively). PCr content was comparable between BET versus PL (p=0.78) and CR versus BET+CR (p=0.99). CR and BET+CR presented greater muscle power output than PL in the squat exercise following supplementation (p=0.003 and p=0.041, respectively). Similarly, bench press average power was significantly greater for the CR-supplemented groups. CR and BET+CR groups also showed significant pre- to post-test increase in 1-RM squat and bench press (CR: p=0.027 and p<0.0001; BET+CR: p=0.03 and p<0.0001 for upper- and lower-body assessments, respectively) No significant differences for 1-RM strength and power were observed between BET versus PL and CR versus BET+CR. Body composition did not differ between the groups. In conclusion, we reported that betaine supplementation does not augment muscle PCr content. Furthermore, we showed that betaine supplementation combined or not with creatine supplementation does not affect strength and power performance in untrained subjects.