In the 1970s, scientists isolated the amino acid dimethylglycine (pronounced die-meth-ill-gly-seen) from its source, called DMG for short. Eventually, it became one of many nutrients used by athletes to help give them a performance edge and was known in the early days as the DMG vitamin or DMG B15, though it’s not a vitamin by the strict definition of the word.
Thanks to its reputation as an all-natural oxygen and endurance enhancer, scientists from all areas of health started their experiments with DMG to see if it could help their patients. Sure enough, data started showing how it was relieving those with chronic joint pain, restoring concentration and focus, normalizing cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and so much more.
In only a few years, dimethylglycine went from being a celebrated endurance enhancer to the unsung hero of the nutrition world. As you keep reading, you’ll see how this simple nutrient has the potential to help improve your health, even if you’re not an athlete. At middle age, you start feeling changes in your body you may chalk up to aging: energy levels hit rock bottom, weight soars, muscles become soft, skin wrinkled and slack, and desire tanks. You may feel past your prime — but science says that’s wrong!
Why DMG is the Unsung Hero of the Nutrition World
DMG works behind the scenes as an intermediate metabolite in the one-carbon choline cycle, with its primary function being to contribute methyl groups for methylation reactions and provide other essential building blocks. Its promise was first used as an addition to equine diets for racehorses before eventually being used to enhance athletic performance. Even though it has been used for decades, only recently has it reached public awareness.
While found in plants and animals, our bodies — particularly our liver — can create it from glycine sources (we’ll touch on the best sources to get glycine shortly).
Even though it’s marketed to athletes, don’t let that fool you. The benefits of dimethylglycine are many and are enjoyed by everyone, regardless of age or activity level.
In fact, for some occupations that require that extra focus, like truck drivers, overnight nurses, military personnel, and even students burning the midnight oil preparing for their next big exam, dimethylglycine can help restore your clarity and concentration when you need it most.
But first, let’s go over some specifics that make it so beneficial:
1. Dimethylglycine and athletic performance:
DMG’s ultimate claim to fame has been shown to enhance overall performance and endurance. Studies show that athletes with high levels of DMG could perform longer without significant fatigue or muscle loss and better utilize oxygen intake. It was also demonstrated that the athletes had less lactic acid buildup after exercising.
One study found that higher levels of DMG reduced the “hitting the wall” feeling marathon runners deal with after using up their stored calories in the liver. This helped to reduce their time while also helping them recover quicker.
Research from Clemson University showed that DMG supports the heart and blood vessels by slowing the rate of degeneration. Studies show this helps with oxygen function, helps normalize cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and moderates cardiovascular performance.
2. Dimethylglycine and heart health:
Much of DMG’s success concerning heart health is its ability to deactivate the amino acid homocysteine. While necessary for human life, too much or too little can contribute to problems ranging from oxidative stress to DNA damage. By giving up one of its methyl groups to homocysteine, DMG helps prevent damage caused by high levels of homocysteine while reducing the toxic burden on the liver.
3. Dimethylglycine and immune health:
Research in the medical journal The Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine showed that DMG acted as an immune modulator, enhancing the immune system’s ability to respond to foreign invaders. Studies show that it boosts the production of T-cells, B-cells, and macrophages to work against whatever is trying to cause infection.
This same study showed how DMG could boost antibody production by 400 percent.
4. Dimethylglycine and detoxification:
While the body can remove toxins in multiple ways, the liver stands out as the master detox organ. With the help of DMG, the liver can detox more efficiently and effectively. This helps clear out toxins, and studies show how methylation is essential.
It’s also been shown that DMG helps increase glutathione production, often considered the “master detoxifier” and free-radical fighter in the liver. Without glutathione, you become more susceptible to illness and can start losing the functionality of your movement, speech, and mental processing. DMG helps keep your detox system running smoothly and your liver strong.
5. Dimethylglycine and inflammation:
DMG supports a healthy inflammatory response and is a potent free-radical fighter, keeping damage to organs and cells at a bare minimum. Research in the medical journal BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies showed how scientists wanted to see if it would impact rheumatoid arthritis based on its reputation as an inflammation tamer. In the conclusion of their report, they found that DMG created “significant reductions” in arthritis.
Thanks in part to its ability to increase circulation while also being an effective detoxifier, this allows DMG to stop inflammation while supporting healthy and graceful aging.
6. Dimethylglycine and cognition:
Based on testimonies in The Townsend Letter, alternative health practitioners from all over have shared results of how DMG has been helping with various parts of brain function, including memory, cognition, and focus.
This is because DMG crosses the blood-brain barrier directly to the brain, so it can start getting to work quickly. It’s also been shown to produce neurotransmitter building blocks, improving the connection between the brain and the body.
Surprisingly, some professionals have had luck using DMG on those showing symptoms of autism. Dr. Rimland of the Autism Research Society of San Diego, California, has kept records of parents who have filled out various surveys and found that nearly 50 percent of people with autism symptoms have improved thanks to DMG.
7. Dimethylglycine and stress:
Because of its multiple benefits, it’s no wonder that DMG works similarly to popular adaptogens like holy basil or astragalus, both prized herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Like many other adaptogens, DMG helps to improve the areas of the body, like immunity and circulation, reducing inflammation and oxidation and supporting the detoxing of toxins.
Eating the right foods with DMG
There are two ways of getting DMG: through either food or supplements.
These foods contain the highest amount of DMG:
- Beef liver
- Beans and Legumes
- Pumpkin seeds
- Sunflower seeds
- Foods typically with high amounts of b-vitamins (that aren’t fortified)
Since glycine is also a precursor to DMG, eating foods high in glycine can help raise dimethylglycine levels.
Glycine sources include:
- Animal skins like pork (pork rinds), fish skin, chicken skin, etc.
- Dried egg whites
- Lean meats
- Bone broth
- Dairy
By incorporating these foods into part of your everyday diet, you’ll be able to raise the DMG levels in your blood slowly.
Remember that most of these foods only contain small amounts of dimethylglycine, and to meet the requirement of the amount used in studies, you’d have to eat all day long. This isn’t to say you can’t benefit from eating these foods, but supplementing is a safe option.
Getting the Right Amount of DMG
Supplementing with DMG will help you quickly and easily reach the desired levels. To help strengthen the effects of dimethylglycine, you can pair it with either a nitric oxide booster like l-arginine or l-citrulline or the hormone balancer Diindolylmethane or DIM for short.
So whether you want to compete or feel like you can, DMG can give you what you need to keep going and then some while promoting a healthy body.
Call Doctor’s Nutrition at 228-897-0070 and ask about our DMG product – Defend MG (DMG).
DMG supports the body in times of stress, throughout the aging process, and during immune system challenges. DMG is an intricate part of human metabolism and has been used in health as a nutritional supplement for over 25 years. Research and clinical experience have shown that DMG supplementation supports physical and mental performance, oxygen utilization (asthma & COPD), strengthening of both arms of the immune system, including antibody, lymphocyte, and cytokine production, detoxification, especially in the liver, circulation, and vascular health, glucose and fat metabolism, blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, and homocysteine levels within normal ranges.
