The effects of betaine supplementation on strength and power adaptations following an 8-week resistance training program

Betaine has been shown to play a crucial role in human nutrition, as well as being known to improve athletic performance. Short-term supplementation of betaine has been shown to increase muscular strength, power, and endurance during a single bout of resistance exercise. However, no long term studies (greater than 4 wks) have examined the effects of betaine supplementation on performance measures. Additionally, no studies have examined the influence of betaine in strength-trained individuals participating in a resistance training program. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of betaine supplementation on training adaptations in college-aged males after an 8-week resistance training program. Body composition, bench press and squat 1-RM, bench press and squat repetitions to exhaustion (75% 1-RM), vertical jump power, and profile of moods states questionnaire were examined pre- and post-training. Eleven subjects were randomly assigned to a betaine or placebo group before undergoing an 8-week supplementation and resistance training program. The supplementation was administered in a double-blind fashion to minimize bias of the results. Although there were improvements in muscular strength and vertical jump power in both groups, statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in any of these outcome variables between groups. It appears that betaine supplementation coupled with an 8-week resistance training program does not have an effect on strength and power adaptations over and above that of the training program itself.