Effects of 14-weeks betaine supplementation on pro-inflammatory cytokines and hematology status in professional youth soccer players during a competition season: a double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Table 1 Descriptive characteristics of the soccer players (n = 29) U16 by groups

Variables	Groups	*Mean ± SD*	Confidence Interval 95%
Height (cm)	BG	172.1 ± 2.3	[170.8 to 173.5]
Height (cm)	PG	174.2 ± 4	[171.9 to 176.4]
Body mass (kg)	BG	59.2 ± 4.8	[56.4 to 61.9]
Body mass (kg)	PG	65.8 ± 7.0	[61.9 to 69.6]
BMI (kg.m²)	BG	18.8 ± 4.7	[16.1 to 21.6]
BMI (kg.m²)	PG	21.7 ± 1.8	[20.7 to 22.6]
VO_2max (ml.kg^− 1.min^− 1)	BG	48.7 ± 2.2	[47.4 to 50.0]
VO_2max (ml.kg^− 1.min^− 1)	PG	47.5 ± 2.6	[46.1 to 48.9]
PHV (years)	BG	13.6 ± 0.2	[13.3 to 13.7]
PHV (years)	PG	13.4 ± 0.5	[13.1 to 13.6]
Maturity Offsets (years)	BG	1.8 ± 0.2	[1.6 to 2.0]
Maturity Offsets (years)	PG	2.1 ± 0.4	[1.8 to 2.3]
Age (years)	BG	15.4 ± 0.3	[15.3 to 15.5]
Age (years)	PG	15.5 ± 0.2	[15.3 to 15.6]
Body Fat (%)	BG	8.7 ± 2.7	[7.1 to 10.2]
Body Fat (%)	PG	9.2 ± 3.5	[7.3 to 11.1]
LBM (kg)	BG	54.0 ± 4.6	[51.4 to 56.7]
LBM (kg)	PG	59.6 ± 5.4	[56.7 to 62.6]

SD Standard deviation, BG Betaine group, PG Placebo group, BMI Body mass index, VO_2max, PHV Peak height velocity; LBM Lean body mass

ISSN: 1550-2783