Natural performance enhancer boosts performance by 6%

Footballers, take note: US scientists have found an all-natural, legal performance enhancer. Ithaca College researchers have found that betaine - a nutrient found in shellfish and beetroot - can boost athletic performance by nearly 6% when added to a sports drink.

“Betaine may contribute to creatine synthesis, which improves strength, power and short-term performance,” said Thomas Swensen, Ithaca College’s Exercise and Sport Sciences Chair, who led the study.

“Future research should elucidate the mechanism of how betaine supplementation improves performance.”

Sixteen college-aged cyclists were tested three times to measure how the sports drink and betaine beverage affected performance variables such as average and maximum peak power. The initial test established baseline performances. The second test involved subjects consuming either a commercial sports drink or a sports drink containing 2.5 grams of betaine. Three weeks later, the subjects repeated the process with the opposite beverage.

The results showed that consuming the betaine supplement for one week increased peak and mean anaerobic power by 5.5% compared to baseline measures.

The research findings were published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition.