In combination with betaine, stims may burn more fat
Stimulants like caffeine and synephrine force fat cells to release their contents into the bloodstream, hence the presence of stimulants in many fat burners. These fat loss supplements may be more effective when combined with betaine, a study in the Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology suggests. According to this study, betaine increases the absorption of fatty acids by muscle cells.Study
For 6 weeks, the researchers gave 3 groups of pigs standard feed, or feed with a small or larger amount of betaine. If the pigs had been humans, they would have ingested 2.4 [low betaine group] or 4.8 grams of betaine [high betaine group] daily. The researchers then studied the animals' muscles.
Results
The researchers found more free fatty acids in the muscle cells of the pigs that had received betaine.
You can see above how betaine ensures that there are more free fatty acids in muscle cells. The production of fatty acid transport protein-1 [FATP-1] and fatty acid binding protein-3 [FABP3] in the muscle cells increased by supplementation with betaine. These two proteins play an important role in the absorption of fatty acids and the transport of fatty acids in the muscle cell, respectively.
Betaine probably also stimulates the burning of fatty acids by the mitochondria. According to the researchers, this is evident from the effect of betaine on the activity of mitochondrial genes involved in the oxidation of fatty acids.
Conclusion
"Betaine supplementation increased the level of free fatty acids in muscle, which may have resulted due to a change in the balance of fatty acid uptake and oxidation", the researchers summarize."Betaine may promote fatty acid uptake via increasing the expression of fatty acid transporters including [...] FATP1 and FABP3 in muscle. Additionally, betaine activated AMPK and up-regulated PPAR-alpha and CPT1, and may enhance fatty acid oxidation in muscle."
"Fatty acid accretion in muscle represents a balance between uptake and oxidation, and it seems that the effect of betaine on uptake was stronger than oxidation."
What if...
We suggested in the first paragraph of this post that betaine might be interesting in combination with stimulants like caffeine, which release fatty acids from the fat cells. What would happen if add some good old cardio to that?
Source:
J Anim Sci Biotechnol. 2017;8:72.
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For 6 weeks, the researchers gave 3 groups of pigs standard feed, or feed with a small or larger amount of betaine. If the pigs had been humans, they would have ingested 2.4 [low betaine group] or 4.8 grams of betaine [high betaine group] daily. The researchers then studied the animals' muscles.
Results
The researchers found more free fatty acids in the muscle cells of the pigs that had received betaine.
You can see above how betaine ensures that there are more free fatty acids in muscle cells. The production of fatty acid transport protein-1 [FATP-1] and fatty acid binding protein-3 [FABP3] in the muscle cells increased by supplementation with betaine. These two proteins play an important role in the absorption of fatty acids and the transport of fatty acids in the muscle cell, respectively.
Betaine probably also stimulates the burning of fatty acids by the mitochondria. According to the researchers, this is evident from the effect of betaine on the activity of mitochondrial genes involved in the oxidation of fatty acids.
Conclusion
"Fatty acid accretion in muscle represents a balance between uptake and oxidation, and it seems that the effect of betaine on uptake was stronger than oxidation."
What if...
We suggested in the first paragraph of this post that betaine might be interesting in combination with stimulants like caffeine, which release fatty acids from the fat cells. What would happen if add some good old cardio to that?
Source:
J Anim Sci Biotechnol. 2017;8:72.