Betaine & choline | Body recompositioning nutrients that protect against cancer
Athletes know betaine and choline as substances that increase the amount of muscle tissue en decrease the amount of body fat. According to a meta study published in Scientific Reports by Chinese oncologists at Nanjing Medical University, these two substances also protect against cancer.Betaine & choline
In the body, both betaine and choline act as methyl donors. Cells use those methyl groups to repair damaged DNA, so nutrition scientists suspect that diets high in choline and betaine reduce the risk of some cancers. In addition, cells use choline as a building block for their membranes.
Study
The researchers tracked 11 previously published studies in the scientific literature, pooled the results and re-analyzed them.
Results
Compared to a diet low in betaine, a diet high in betaine reduced the risk of cancer by 14 percent. A diet high in choline reduced the risk of cancer by 18 percent.
When the researchers looked at the effect of a diet with a relatively large amount of betaine and a relatively large amount of choline, the risk of cancer decreased by 40 percent.
The researchers were able to calculate that for every increase of 100 milligrams of choline plus betaine in the diet, the risk of cancer decreased by 11 percent.Conclusion
"Our meta-analysis manifests that choline and betaine consumption possesses the ability to lower cancer risk", write the researchers. "However, these results should be considered with caution on account of the considerable heterogeneity, the potential biases and confounding factors. Further studies well designed as large prospective studies and placebo-controlled intervention trials on choline and betaine supplementation are warranted to ascertain the results and establish the potential dose-response relationship."
Source:
Sci Rep. 2016 Oct 19;6:35547.
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In the body, both betaine and choline act as methyl donors. Cells use those methyl groups to repair damaged DNA, so nutrition scientists suspect that diets high in choline and betaine reduce the risk of some cancers. In addition, cells use choline as a building block for their membranes.
Study
The researchers tracked 11 previously published studies in the scientific literature, pooled the results and re-analyzed them.
Results
Compared to a diet low in betaine, a diet high in betaine reduced the risk of cancer by 14 percent. A diet high in choline reduced the risk of cancer by 18 percent.
When the researchers looked at the effect of a diet with a relatively large amount of betaine and a relatively large amount of choline, the risk of cancer decreased by 40 percent.
"Our meta-analysis manifests that choline and betaine consumption possesses the ability to lower cancer risk", write the researchers. "However, these results should be considered with caution on account of the considerable heterogeneity, the potential biases and confounding factors. Further studies well designed as large prospective studies and placebo-controlled intervention trials on choline and betaine supplementation are warranted to ascertain the results and establish the potential dose-response relationship."
Source:
Sci Rep. 2016 Oct 19;6:35547.