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Betaine Supplementation and Lipid Metabolism in Overweight and Obese Pre-menopausal Women

Not Applicable
Not yet recruiting
Conditions
Overweight and Obesity
Interventions
Dietary Supplement: Betaine
Dietary Supplement: Placebo
Registration Number
NCT06344377
Lead Sponsor
Poznan University of Life Sciences
Brief Summary

Obesity represents a serious global health issue with significant consequences, including an increased risk of chronic diseases. Statistics indicate a growing trend of obesity, highlighting the need to seek methods that improve fat tissue metabolism and reduce obesity-related complications. Previous research on animals has shown that betaine, a substance engaged in one-carbon metabolism, may enhance fat oxidation and lower adipose tissue. Therefore, the aim of the research will be to assess the impact of 8-week betaine supplementation on body composition and lipid metabolism markers, as well as expression of genes related to lipid metabolism, in a group of adult women with abdominal obesity.

This study is designed in a placebo-controlled, double-blinded, randomized fashion. The participants will be overweight or obese pre-menopausal females. Upon enrollment, participants will be randomly assigned to one of two parallel groups: betaine (3g/d) or placebo. The supplementation period will last for 8 weeks. There will be three study meetings: T1 before supplementation, T2 after 4 weeks of supplementation, and T3 after 8 weeks of supplementation. Blood will be drawn and body composition measured, and adipose tissue biopsy taken at meetings T1 and T3. The T2 meeting will involve only body composition measurement. Study outcomes will include body mass and composition (including body fat percent), lipid profile, and the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism in adipose tissue and peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
60
Inclusion Criteria
  • females
  • age: 18-45 years
  • pre-menopausal
  • overweight or obese: BMI >25 kg/m2
  • waist circumference > 80 cm
Exclusion Criteria
  • males
  • age <18 or >45 years
  • perimenopausal or postmenopausal
  • BMI < 25 kg/m2
  • waist circumference < 80 cm
  • betaine administration for 3 months prior to study
  • pregnant or breastfeeding

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
BetaineBetaineBetaine supplementation for 8 weeks, daily dose of 3 g/d, taken twice a day in a capsulated form. One capsule will contain 500 mg betaine. Daily number of capsules will be 2 x 3 = 6.
PlaceboPlaceboPlacebo will be inactive substance (maltodextrin) provided in the same-looking capsules as betaine. Placebo will be administered twice a day, daily number of capsules will be 2 x 3 = 6.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Lipid profile8 weeks, two measurements: at week 0 and 8

Total cholesterol, Triacylglycerols, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol

Body mass8 weeks, three measurements: at week 0, 4 and 8

Measured in kg

Gene expression8 weeks, two measurements: at week 0 and 8

Included genes relate to lipid metabolism in adipose tissue: PPARG, CD36, FABP4, UCP1, PPARGC1A, LEP, ADIPOQ, INSR, IRS1, DGAT2, SREBF1, ELOVL5 , FADS3, FASN

Body composition8 weeks, three measurements: at week 0, 4 and 8

Body composition will include percent body fat and lean body mass measured with air displacement plethysmography

Waist and hips circumference8 weeks, three measurements: at week 0, 4 and 8

Measured in cm

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Liver function test8 weeks, two measurements: at week 0 and 8

concentraions of enzymes: ALT, AST, GGTP, ALP

Dietary intake8 weeks, two measurements: at week 0 and 8

Based on food diary

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Poznan University of Life Sciences

🇵🇱

Poznań, Poland

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