title: Influence of betaine consumption on strenuous running and sprinting in a hot environment.
abstract: This investigation evaluated the effects of a nutritional supplement (the organic osmolyte betaine) in rehydration solutions, with and without carbohydrate and electrolytes. Ten male runners ((mean +/- SD) age, 20 +/- 2 years; weight, 70.6 +/- 6.8 kg; maximal aerobic power, 63.5 +/- 4.1 mL O2 x kg(-1) x min(-1)) dehydrated to -2.7% of body weight. They next rehydrated to -1.4% of body weight by consuming 1 L fluid during each of four experiments (double-blind, randomized, cross-over design): flavored, non-caloric water (W); W + 5 g x L(-1) betaine (W+B); 6% carbohydrate-electrolyte fluid (C); or C + 5 g x L(-1) betaine (C+B). Subjects then performed prolonged treadmill running (75 minutes at 65%Vo2max) plus a performance sprint to volitional exhaustion (3.1-3.8 minutes at 84%Vo2max) in an environmental chamber (31.1 degrees C, 88.0 degrees F). Only W versus W+B and C versus C+B statistical comparisons were germane to the research questions. Observations indicated that rehydration with fluids containing betaine resulted in significant differences (p < 0.05) of plasma volume, oxygen consumption, plasma lactate concentration, and thermal sensation. The present experiments did not support the use of betaine to improve sprint duration, but nonsignificant trends occurred when betaine trials were compared with non-betaine trials (mean C+B > C by 32 seconds, +16%; mean W+B > W by 38 seconds, +21%). We interpret the increases of both aerobic and anaerobic metabolism (C+B > C) to mean that further investigation of betaine as a nutritional supplement, using other types of exercise, is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA. armstrong@uconn.edu
authors.forename: Lawrence E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.forename: Douglas J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Casa
authors.forename: Melissa W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Roti
authors.forename: Elaine C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Stuart A S
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: Jason W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Sutherland
authors.forename: Kelly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Fiala
authors.forename: Carl M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Maresh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001622:Betaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003681:Dehydration / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004326:Drinking; D005080:Exercise Test; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D015532:Rehydration Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D014883:Water-Electrolyte Imbalance / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D015532:Rehydration Solutions; D001622:Betaine