{ "dataset": "betaine-tmg-cost-by-brand", "title": "Betaine (TMG) Supplements Compared — cost per gram of betaine", "sourcePage": "https://verifiedsupplementdata.com/betaine-tmg/best-overall/", "license": "CC-BY-4.0", "licenseUrl": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/", "attribution": "Verified Supplement Data (2026), Betaine (TMG) Cost Comparison", "dateModified": "2026-07-19", "methodology": "Betaine anhydrous (trimethylglycine, TMG) is a single molecule sold at close to 100% disclosed weight per serving in every product tracked here — unlike choline bitartrate, there is no salt-vs-elemental conversion needed. Products are ranked by costPerGram = price / totalGrams (totalGrams = servingsPerContainer x mgPerServing / 1000). Two reference doses are reported because the evidence base supports two distinct use cases at two distinct doses: costPer2_5gDose for the ~2.5g/day athletic-performance dose (Cholewa 2013/2018), and costPer6gDose for the 6g/day dose with the clearest homocysteine-lowering effect (Olthof 2003/2005) — note the well-replicated homocysteine range is 3-6g/day. Bulk powder is 13.8x cheaper per gram than the priciest capsule/tablet product in this set (BulkSupplements Betaine Anhydrous Powder (1 kg) at $0.029/g vs Life Extension TMG 500 mg (100 Liquid Veg Caps) at $0.399/g). NAMING: \"betaine\" here means betaine anhydrous / trimethylglycine (TMG) — a methyl-donor/osmolyte supplement — NOT betaine HCl, a separate stomach-acid/digestive product with a different evidence base; do not conflate the two. HONESTY NOTES (from the verified evidence pack, gates passed 2026-07-19): (1) betaine reliably lowers homocysteine (a surrogate marker) in a dose-dependent, well-replicated way, but no outcome trial shows this reduces cardiovascular events — never read \"lowers homocysteine\" as \"protects your heart.\" (2) At 6g/day, betaine RAISES LDL cholesterol and triglycerides (Olthof 2005, PMID 15916468: LDL +0.36 mmol/L, 95% CI 0.25-0.46) — a real trade-off at the most effective homocysteine-lowering dose. (3) At the ~2.5g/day performance dose, evidence is mixed: some power/body-composition signals, but NO trial in the evidence base showed a 1RM strength advantage (Cholewa 2013, Cholewa 2018). (4) NAFLD/fatty-liver evidence is preliminary and largely negative (Abdelmalek 2009, 20g/day research dose, null on NAFLD activity score and fibrosis) — betaine does not \"detox\" or cure fatty liver. This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA; these products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.", "headline": { "productsCompared": 6, "cheapestPerGramBrand": "BulkSupplements", "cheapestPerGramProduct": "Betaine Anhydrous Powder (1 kg)", "cheapestPerGram": 0.029, "priciestPerGramBrand": "Life Extension", "priciestPerGram": 0.399, "powderVsCapsuleSpreadX": 13.8, "performanceDoseG": 2.5, "homocysteineLowG": 3, "homocysteineHighG": 6, "note": "Ranked by cost per gram of betaine (TMG) — never by commissions. Betaine anhydrous/TMG is NOT betaine HCl (a separate digestive product)." }, "columns": [ "brand", "product", "slug", "form", "mgPerServing", "servings", "totalGrams", "price", "costPerGram", "costPer2_5gDose", "costPer6gDose", "capsulesFor2_5g", "certification" ], "units": { "mgPerServing": "mg betaine (TMG)", "totalGrams": "g betaine (TMG)", "price": "USD", "costPerGram": "USD/g", "costPer2_5gDose": "USD per 2.5g dose", "costPer6gDose": "USD per 6g dose" }, "citations": [ { "claim": "RCT, n=76 (4 groups of 19): 1.5g/3g/6g betaine/day vs placebo, 6 weeks — fasting homocysteine down 12% (1.5g), 15% (3g), 20% (6g) vs placebo, dose-dependent.", "source": "Olthof MR, et al. 2003, J Nutr", "pmid": "14652361" }, { "claim": "Combined analysis of 3 betaine RCTs, n=151: 6g/day betaine raised LDL cholesterol by 0.36 mmol/L (95% CI 0.25-0.46) and triglycerides by 0.14 mmol/L — the LDL/lipid trade-off at the effective homocysteine-lowering dose.", "source": "Olthof MR, et al. 2005, PLoS Med", "pmid": "15916468" }, { "claim": "Randomized double-blind crossover, n=10: single doses of 1g/3g/6g betaine — 3g and 6g significantly lowered plasma homocysteine within 2 hours (linear dose-response, p=0.006); 1g did NOT.", "source": "Schwab U, et al. 2006, J Nutr", "pmid": "16365055" }, { "claim": "RCT, n=23 untrained collegiate women, 2.5g/day, 8 weeks: body fat% and fat mass improved more with betaine, but squat 1RM improved ~equally in both groups — no strength advantage. Disclosed conflict: one author employed by DuPont Nutrition & Health, a betaine ingredient supplier.", "source": "Cholewa JM, et al. 2018, J Int Soc Sports Nutr", "pmid": "30064450" }, { "claim": "RCT, n=23 strength-trained men, 2.5g/day, 6 weeks: arm cross-sectional area and body composition improved with betaine, but no significant difference in bench press or back squat 1RM — the primary strength outcome was null.", "source": "Cholewa JM, et al. 2013, J Int Soc Sports Nutr", "pmid": "23967897" }, { "claim": "RCT, 55 enrolled/35 completed NASH patients, 20g/day, 12 months: steatosis grade improved somewhat, but NO intra- or intergroup differences in NAFLD activity score or fibrosis stage — the disease-relevant endpoints were null.", "source": "Abdelmalek MF, et al. 2009, Hepatology", "pmid": "19824078" } ], "products": [ { "brand": "BulkSupplements", "product": "Betaine Anhydrous Powder (1 kg)", "slug": "bulksupplements-betaine-anhydrous-powder-1kg", "form": "Powder", "mgPerServing": 1500, "servings": 666, "totalGrams": 999, "price": 28.97, "costPerGram": 0.029, "costPer2_5gDose": 0.07, "costPer6gDose": 0.17, "capsulesFor2_5g": null, "certification": "Third-party tested, cGMP" }, { "brand": "Nutricost", "product": "Betaine Anhydrous TMG Powder (500 g)", "slug": "nutricost-betaine-anhydrous-tmg-powder-500g", "form": "Powder", "mgPerServing": 1500, "servings": 333, "totalGrams": 499.5, "price": 15.95, "costPerGram": 0.032, "costPer2_5gDose": 0.08, "costPer6gDose": 0.19, "capsulesFor2_5g": null, "certification": "3rd-party tested (ISO lab)" }, { "brand": "Vitamatic", "product": "Betaine Anhydrous (TMG) Powder (250 g)", "slug": "vitamatic-betaine-tmg-powder-250g", "form": "Powder", "mgPerServing": 1497, "servings": 167, "totalGrams": 250, "price": 9.99, "costPerGram": 0.04, "costPer2_5gDose": 0.1, "costPer6gDose": 0.24, "capsulesFor2_5g": null, "certification": "None stated" }, { "brand": "Nutricost", "product": "TMG (Trimethylglycine) 750 mg (120 caps)", "slug": "nutricost-tmg-750mg-capsules", "form": "Capsule", "mgPerServing": 750, "servings": 120, "totalGrams": 90, "price": 9.95, "costPerGram": 0.111, "costPer2_5gDose": 0.28, "costPer6gDose": 0.67, "capsulesFor2_5g": 4, "certification": "3rd-party tested (ISO lab)" }, { "brand": "NOW Foods", "product": "TMG Betaine 1,000 mg (Tablets)", "slug": "now-foods-tmg-betaine-1000mg-tablets", "form": "Tablet", "mgPerServing": 1000, "servings": 100, "totalGrams": 100, "price": 17.14, "costPerGram": 0.171, "costPer2_5gDose": 0.43, "costPer6gDose": 1.03, "capsulesFor2_5g": 3, "certification": "cGMP (NPA-certified facility)" }, { "brand": "Life Extension", "product": "TMG 500 mg (100 Liquid Veg Caps)", "slug": "life-extension-tmg-500mg-caps", "form": "Capsule", "mgPerServing": 500, "servings": 100, "totalGrams": 50, "price": 19.95, "costPerGram": 0.399, "costPer2_5gDose": 1, "costPer6gDose": 2.39, "capsulesFor2_5g": 5, "certification": "GMP; reputable manufacturer" } ] }