Betaine is a powerful supplement that can help you build more muscle, especially if used in conjunction with other muscle-building supplements like creatine and whey protein. Often found in pre-workouts, betaine has been shown to enhance workouts and increase bench press volume by reducing fatigue and increasing hydration and strength.
1. Boosts Energy Levels
Betaine anhydrous is a natural substance that occurs naturally in your body and can also be found in foods such as beets, spinach, cereals and seafood. It plays a role in cellular reproduction, liver function and the production of the amino acid carnitine -- a compound that helps your body convert fat into energy.
In addition, betaine works to lower Homocysteine levels in the body, a condition that increases your risk for heart disease and liver disease. It does this by acting as a methyl group donor, increasing the activity of b-hydroxylase and decreasing the consumption of methionine.
Betaine also helps improve muscle growth by enhancing blood flow and nitric oxide levels to your muscles, delivering more oxygen so that your body can create more muscle protein. It can be used alongside creatine, another ingredient that improves muscle performance and helps you get the most out of your workout.
2. Boosts Brain Function
Betaine is a chemical that occurs naturally in the body. It aids liver function, cellular reproduction, and helps the body create carnitine and metabolize homocysteine, an amino acid. Homocysteine is involved in the normal function of several parts of the body, including the eyes, blood, heart, and muscles.
Betaine can also stimulate growth hormone (GH) secretion from the hypothalamus and promotes protein synthesis in animals. It also reduces cortisol levels in the blood, which may directly promote protein synthesis and fat metabolism.
In vivo studies have shown that betaine enhances the transport of long-chain fatty acids into muscle cells. It also increases the expression of genes related to fatty acid translocase /cluster of differentiation 36 (FAT/CD36) and fatty acid-binding protein3 (FABP3) in muscle tissue.
As a methyl group donor, betaine is used in the synthesis of creatine, carnitine, phosphatidylcholine, and epinephrine. It has a theoretical methyl-donating capacity that is 3.7 times greater than that of choline and about 1/15th that of methionine.
3. Boosts Immune System
Betaine is a methyl donor and plays a role in many cellular functions such as lowering homocysteine levels, synthesizing neurotransmitters and metabolizing creatine. It also acts as an osmolyte and helps water-stressed cells maintain their integrity and volume.
Betaine has a high choline content and can be used to increase the choline supply in the placenta during pregnancy, especially when maternal methionine or folic acid is limited. It may also help to enhance the transport of nutrients across the placenta and to improve foetal growth and viability.
It is also a superior cryoprotectant for red blood cells, matching the efficacy of serum albumin and trehalose/dextran. Its osmotic regulation ability may be a key to preventing postthaw cytotoxicity and improving long-term cell viability. This is because betaine has a dual-charged molecule (cationic and anionic) that behaves differently depending on the pH of the solution.
4. Boosts Muscle Growth
Betaine is a natural supplement that improves muscle endurance, strength and power. A study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition found that participants who took 2.5 grams of betaine daily for two weeks were able to perform more reps during a bench press workout and pedal with more power in cycling workouts than the control group.
Betaine reduces the amount of homocysteine circulating in your blood by "donating" one of its methyl groups to homocysteine molecules, turning them into methionine. Homocysteine is a problem because it leads to the build-up of plaque in your arteries, increasing your risk for heart disease.
Betaine can also increase protein synthesis in your muscles. This means that your body will have more amino acids to create new muscle tissue, improving your strength and endurance. But keep in mind that this is only effective if you are training hard and eating a balanced diet. For best results, be sure to pair Betaine Monohydrate with other supplements like creatine, caffeine, synephrine and yohimbine.