Key Points:
- Twelve weeks of betaine supplementation prevents lean mass and grip strength decreases in old mice.
- Betaine also enhances autophagy, a process that diminishes with age and contributes to age-related muscle decline.
The latest research suggests our muscles peak in our early thirties, necessitating the need for building a muscle reserve during our younger years. This is because, after peaking, our muscle mass and strength gradually decline. Moreover, this age-related muscle decline usually accelerates at some point in our 50s or 60s.
In addition to proper nutrition and resistance exercise, or hormone therapy, certain supplements may mitigate age-related muscle decline. This includes betaine, also called trimethylglycine (TMG), a naturally occurring molecule found in foods like beets, spinach, and whole grains. Considering that athletes often supplement with betaine to promote gains in muscle mass, it could prevent age-related muscle decline.
Betaine Counteracts Age-Related Muscle Decline
To test whether it can mitigate age-related muscle decline, researchers from Sun Yat-sen University in China placed betaine into the drinking water of old mice for 12 weeks. As a result, the betaine-treated old mice had more lean mass than untreated old mice and about the same lean mass as young mice. Furthermore, the grip strength of the betaine-treated old mice was similar to young mice and greater than that of untreated old mice. Considering that lean mass includes muscle mass, these findings suggest that betaine could contribute to preventing age-related muscle decline.
Betaine Targets Underlying Biological Driver of Aging
Scientists have identified several underlying biological drivers of aging, including autophagy — our cellular waste disposal and recycle system. With age, autophagy diminishes, which is associated with age-related muscle decline. With this in mind, the Sun Yat-sen University researchers sought to determine if betaine triggers autophagy in muscle, which could contribute to how it counteracts age-related muscle decline.
Using a powerful microscope, the researchers assessed autophagy by measuring the presence of structures called autophagosomes which engulf cellular waste to break it down. The results showed that betaine-treated old mice had more autophagosomes than untreated old mice. Moreover, the betaine-treated old mice had less abnormal muscle structures, another indicator of reduced autophagy. These findings suggest that betaine counteracts age-related muscle decline, at least in part, by enhancing autophagy.
Preventing Sarcopenia with Betaine
Sarcopenia is an age-related disease characterized by a loss of muscle mass and strength. Studies suggest that consuming all the essential nutrients across a lifespan, with particular emphasis on protein, could help prevent the occurrence of sarcopenia. Moreover, the prevention of sarcopenia is more likely to occur with resistance training. Still, supplements such a betaine may provide an additional boost to sarcopenia prevention. The authors of the study say,
“Understanding the role of betaine in autophagy regulation opens up new possibilities for preventing sarcopenia and improving overall muscle health during aging. Further research is warranted to explore the precise mechanisms and potential therapeutic applications of these findings.”
With that being said, more studies in animals and humans may help confirm betaine’s effect on muscle growth in old age.
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