Betaine, Exercise Performance, and Gut Permeability

Completed · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Metabolic Disturbance, Permeability; Increased

In brief

This study will determine if ingestion of 3 g/d betaine versus placebo for two weeks prior to a 60-km cycling time trial will improve performance, moderate exercise-induced gut permeability, and improve metabolic recovery.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT06392360

Run by

Appalachian State University

People needed

23

Starts

2024-08-13

Expected to finish

2025-02-11

Last updated by the study team

2025-03-11

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Male or female cyclists, ages 18-65 years, and capable of cycling 60-km in the laboratory at 70% VO2max (close to race pace).
• Non-smoker, and generally healthy and without gastrointestinal diseases (irritable bowel syndrome, chronic nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, Crohn's disease, Celiac disease, diverticulosis) or chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease (e.g., heart disease, stroke), cancer, type 1 and 2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis. Categorized as "low risk" using the American College of Sports Medicine screening questionnaire.
• Agree to train normally, maintain weight, and avoid the regular use of large-dose vitamin and mineral supplements, herbs, and medications that influence inflammation (especially NSAIDs) for the duration of the 6-week study and at least a 2-week period prior to the study.
• Agree to taper their exercise routine prior to each of the 2 lab cycling sessions.
• Agree to restrict beet, wheat bran, wheat germ, and spinach diet intake and avoid other betaine supplements (other than what is provided in the supplement) during the entire 6-week study.

You may not qualify if…

• Inability to comply with study requirements.
• Females trying to become pregnant, or currently pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Nonpregnant adults who weigh less than 110 pounds.
• Any other concurrent condition which, in the opinion of the principal investigator (PI), would preclude participation in this study or interfere with compliance.
• Current diagnosis of gastrointestinal disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or cancer (except for non-melanoma skin cancer).
• History of sensitivity to betaine and beets.
• History of adverse symptoms to lactulose, mannitol, and rhamnose sugars.

Where it is running

• Appalachian State University Human Performance Lab, North Carolina Research Campus — Kannapolis, North Carolina, United States
• AppState-North Carolina Research Campus Human Performance Lab — Kannapolis, North Carolina, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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