Dimethylglycine Increase Endurance Increase Energy Increase Strength Muscle Gain

Dimethylglycine (DMG) does not seem to be Ergogenic – 2020

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N,N-Dimethylglycine (short: DMG) is an intermediate of choline metabolism. Betaine (metabolized from choline and is a metabolic precursor to dimethylglycine) donates a methyl group to homocysteine to form methionine [1]. By this removal of one methyl group from betaine, dimethylglycine is formed [1]. DMG is often sold commercially as hydrochloride salt (dimethylglycine HCL).

Dimethylglycine’s Effects on Athletic Performance and Bodybuilding:

Dimethylglycine has been claimed to be an athletic performance enhancer (for bodybuilding) and can be found in various sports supplements. Since dimethylglycine donates methyl groups to transmethylation process it is claimed to improved energy usage. Therefore, it is often marketed and sold as an energiser.

The interest in dimethylglycine arose from a report indicating that N,N-Dimethylglycine reduces lactic acid concentration in blood in response to surgical stress in animals [2]. Further human and animal studies yielded inconsistent results. A study on dimethylglycine-treated horses by Moffit et al. [3] reported lower plasma lactate concentrations after treadmill exercise. However, this study raised doubts about dimethylglycines effectiveness due to an unbalanced design used. Rose et al. [4] found no differences in muscle lactate concentrations in horses treated with dimethylglycine and horses receiving placebo.

In trained athletes, Pipes [5] noted a 23,6% increase in time to fatigue after DMG supplementation. In contrast, Gray and Larry [6] reported no significant changes in short-term maximal treadmill performance between the group receiving pangamic acid (calcium gluconate and N, N-Dimethylglycine) and control. No improvements in aerobic and anaerobic performance were also reported when 400 mg of DMG per/kg of body weight was administered to elite basketball players [7]. DMG also failed to improve maximal treadmill exercise to exhaustion in well-trained college women [8]. Authors of this study concluded that there is no evidence to recommend DMG as an ergogenic aid to endurance athletes.

Dimethylglycine supplementation seems to have little to no effect on athletic performance besides evidence available is limited and conflicting. More well-researched clinical trials should be done before any definitive conclusions can be made.

Other Dimethylglycine Uses

Treatment of Autism

N,N-dimethylglycine has also been reported to be beneficial in children with autism [9]. Kern et al. [9] reported that some children seem to respond positively to the dimethylglycine supplementation but overall behavioural assessments were not significantly different from children receiving placebo. Same was reported by Bolman and assistants [10], however, the weakness of this study is low dosage used in a small number of children. According to available evidence, subjects treated with DMG show little to no difference compared to untreated subjects for treatment of autism spectrum disorder [11].

Immunostimulant Properties

DMG may improve body’s immune system as reported by Graber and others [12]. Results of their study suggest that dimethylglycine supplementation improves humoral as well as cell-mediated immune responses in humans [12].

Side Effects

Very large doses up to 200 mg/kg given to animal models caused no adverse events [7]. This is not surprising as DMG is a natural metabolite which doesn’t build up in the body.

(Other common names: Pangamic Acid, Vitamin B15, Pangamate)

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References

  1. Friesen, Russell W., et al. “Relationship of DMG, choline, and betaine with oxoproline in plasma of pregnant women and their newborn infants.” The Journal of nutrition 137.12 (2007): 2641-2646.
  2. Meduski, J. W., et al.. 1980. “Decrease of lactic acid concentration in blood of animals given N,N-dimethylglycine.” Presented at Pacific Slope Biomedical Conference, Univ. of California, San Diego, (1980) 7-9.
  3. Moffitt, P., et al. “Venous lactic acid levels in exercising horses fed N, N-DMG.” Proceedings of the 9th Equine Nutrition and physiology Symposium, E., Lansing, Michigan. 1985.
  4. Rose, R. J., et al. “Effects of N, N-DMG on cardiorespiratory function and lactate production in thoroughbred horses performing incremental treadmill exercise.” Veterinary Record 125.10 (1989): 268-271.
  5. Pipes, T. V. “The effects of pangamic acid on performance in trained athletes.” Med. Sci. Sports Exercise (1980) 12:98
  6. Gray, Michael E., and Larry W. Titlow. “The effect of pangamic acid on maximal treadmill performance.” Medicine and science in sports and exercise 14.6 (1982): 424.
  7. Reza, Attarzadeh Seyed, et al. “The effect of DMG administration on Biochemical Blood Parameters in Youth elite Basketball Players.” (2013) 55-59.
  8. Brown, H., L. M. Reimnitz, and A. J. Koch. “No Effect of DMG on Maximal Aerobic Power.” The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research 25 (2011): S109-S110.
  9. Kern, Janet K., et al. “Effectiveness of N, N-DMGin autism and pervasive developmental disorder.” Journal of Child Neurology 16.3 (2001): 169-173.
  10. Bolman, William M., and John A. Richmond. “A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover pilot trial of low dose DMGin patients with autistic disorder.” Journal of autism and developmental disorders 29.3 (1999): 191-194.
  11. Rossignol, Daniel A. “Novel and emerging treatments for autism spectrum disorders: a systematic review.” Ann Clin Psychiatry 21.4 (2009): 213-36.
  12. Graber, Charles D., et al. “Immunomodulating properties of DMGin humans.” Journal of Infectious Diseases 143.1 (1981): 101-105.