What Is BetaPower?

BetaPower® is a patented form of natural betaine, a nutrient that promotes improved performance.*

You’ll find BetaPower® in all Kaged pre-workouts. Today, we’re talking about what this ingredient is, what its benefits are, and how you can make sure you get a scientifically-tested dose.

Before we talk about BetaPower® let’s talk about Betaine.

What Is Betaine (Trimethylglycine)?

Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine, or TMG. It’s a derivative of the amino acid glycine.

It exists naturally in dark, leafy vegetables, beets, and whole wheat.

In addition to finding it in these foods, betaine is also produced in the body during choline metabolism. It has two main functions in the body.

Betaine is a glycine with three methyl groups bound to it, and its main function is to methylate, or transfer methyl groups, to various methyl groups in the body.

Beyond its role as a methyl donor, betaine is an osmolyte, which simply means that it promotes hydration of the cells by regulating the movement of water in and out of them.

Each of these roles has the direct consequences for supporting peak performance.

The Benefits of BetaPower® Betaine

Support Strength, Power, and Muscle Endurance*

As the name implies, BetaPower® has been shown to support strength and power.* This is due to its role as a methyl donor.

You see, methyl groups are required for over 100 bodily reactions. A few of these are in particular key for performance, including the synthesis of creatine, carnitine, and epinephrine (adrenaline.) You may be familiar with these. Creatine is one incredibly well-researched and has been shown to support strength and performance, while carnitine has shown to shuttle fat to where it can be used as fuel.* Epinephrine is perhaps most important among these for performance, as its the principal hormone responsible for our “fight or flight” response.

The Research on BetaPower®

The research on BetaPower® has backed this up.

When it comes to strength and power, one study in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition showed that after 14 days of daily BetaPower® supplementation, the group had increased vertical jump power, squat force, and bench press force compared to a placebo group.1

In another study from the same journal showed increased muscle endurance in the form of increase squat repetitions after 7 days, and a larger increase after 14 days.2

Promotes Cell Hydration*

Betaine is also an osmolyte, which simply means that it promotes hydration of the cells by regulating the movement of water in and out of them.

We know that this is important for performance and because the muscles and their supported tissues require proper hydration to perform optimally.

Why BetaPower® Over Regular Betaine

There are several reasons why we only use this patented form of betaine.

First, a number of studies on athletic performance have specifically used BetaPower® natural betaine, rather than a generic alternative. Simply, it’s the form backed by the research.

Second, we know that BetaPower® is standardized to be at least 99% pure and comes from molasses of sugar beets. With generic forms of betaine, you can’t be sure if you’re getting this purity. This is why we choose to use BetaPower® in our supplements.

There are other synthetic and natural betaine products on the market, which may not have been subjected to these stringent tests. This may not always be clear from the product labeling, so look on the supplement panel for the BetaPower® patent.

Aim For 2.5 Grams Per Day of BetaPower®

Research has shown that the ergogenic effects of betaine can be obtained using 2.5 grams to 5 grams per day.* However servings of 2.5 grams a day have been shown to positively affect exercise and athletic performance.

Remember, the studies show benefits when taken consistently over a 14-day period.

How to Get BetaPower®

There are a few options to hit this 2.5 gram threshold. All of our pre-workouts have BetaPower® ranging from 1.25 grams per scoop up to 2.5 grams. Check out this article to learn which Kaged pre-workout is best for you.

We include 1.5 grams of BetaPower® in both our original award-winning pre-workout, Pre-Kaged and in our original post-workout protein, Re-Kaged. Taking Pre-Kaged before training and Re-Kaged after will deliver you a scientifically relevant 3 grams within your peri-workout window.

For those looking to hit a higher dose, Pre-Workout Elite contains 2.5 grams of BetaPower® per scoop.

Betaine has shown to support strength, power, and muscle endurance.* In particular, it may help increase max power output, making it a staple of our Pre-Kaged® line. BetaPower ® is a patented, purified form. Whether you’re an athlete, bodybuilder, or anybody serious about peak performance, betaine belongs in your pre.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

References

Lee, Elaine C et al. “Ergogenic effects of betaine supplementation on strength and power performance.” Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition vol. 7 27. 19 Jul. 2010, doi:10.1186/1550-2783-7-27

Hoffman, Jay R et al. “Effect of betaine supplementation on power performance and fatigue.” Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition vol. 6 7. 27 Feb. 2009, doi:10.1186/1550-2783-6-7