Trimethylglycine supplement by Ray Sahelian, M.D. Trimethylglycine health benefit and dosage
 

Trimethylglycine TMG (also known as betaine), and Dimethylglycine DMG, are methyl donors that help in the production of several brain chemicals and hence improve mood, energy, wellbeing, alertness, concentration, and visual clarity.

Unless your major is college was chemistry, chances are you don’t remember learning about methyl donors. But if you find the field of mind boosting interesting, you will certainly want to learn more about these supplements. A methyl donor is simply any substance that can transfer a methyl group [a carbon atom attached to three hydrogen atoms (CH3)] to another substance. Many important biochemical processes rely on methylation, including the metabolism of lipids and DNA. Scientists suspect that adequate methylation of DNA can prevent the expression of harmful genes, such as cancer genes. It’s quite likely that our body’s ability to methylate declines with age, potentially contributing to the aging process, and therefore supplementation is an interesting idea in terms of health benefits.

Trimethylglycine, 750 mg
Source Naturals
TMG (trimethylglycine), also known as anhydrous betaine, is found in a variety of plant and animal sources and is used in the conversion of homocysteine to methionine. Maintaining normal homocysteine levels is important for the health of the cardiovascular system. TMG has been shown to help protect the liver and raise S-adenosylmethionine (SAM-e) levels, in animal studies.

Amount Per Serving:
Calcium- 60 mg - 6%DV
Trimethylglycine (TMG)- 750 mg


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Mind Power Rx with Trimethylgycine - Formulated by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

Mind Power Rx with Trimethylglycine is a sophisticated cognitive formula. It combines a delicate balance of brain circulation agents and neurotransmitter precursors with powerful natural brain chemicals that support:

• Memory and Mood
• Mental clarity
• Concentration 
• Alertness & Focus


Why buy all the individual herbs and nutrients separately -- at great expense -- when you can buy this excellent combination?

The herbs in Mind Power Rx include: Ashwagandha, Bacopa, Fo-Ti, Ginkgo biloba, Ginseng, Mucuna pruriens, and Reishi.  The nutrients and vitamins in Mind Power Rx include Acetyl-l-carnitine, Carnitine, Carnosine, Choline, DMAE, Inositol, Methylcobalamin, Pantothenic acid, Trimethylglycine, Tyrosine, and Vinpocetine.
Click trimethylglycine above in blue for more information

Research update
Trimethylglycine lowers homocysteine levels.
Trimethylglycine has been found to protect liver cells from toxins.
Trimethylglycine is a safe and well tolerated nutrient that leads to a significant biochemical and histological improvement in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
Trimethylglycine may lead to sexual enhancement and enjoyment, as described in the book Natural Sex Boosters.

Additonal nutrients and herbs that help with energy levels include:
B vitamins can be used at a dosage of one to three times the RDA. A great daily multivitamin supplement is MultiVit-Rx formulated by Dr. Ray Sahelian.
Bee Pollen can increase energy in many people.
Carnitine can be used at a dosage of 200 to 500 mg a day. It is best not to combine many supplements together since overstimulation can occur. Learn how each supplement works by itself.
Chromium is often used by those with blood sugar elevation.
Creatine is the best muscle booster available.
Ginseng is probably the best known Chinese herb.
Maca is an herb from South America.
Royal Jelly increases energy.
Spirulina is a form of blue green algae.
CDP-choline raises choline levels.
NADH is a form of the vitamin niacin.

Side Effects of Trimethylglycine
Trimethylglycine if taken in high dosages, such as more than 750 mg, can cause nausea, increased body temperature, restlessness and insomnia and perhaps muscle tension headache.

Ray Sahelian, M.D.’s Experience with Trimethylglycine
I definitely notice a sense of wellbeing, alertness, and mental sharpness from both trimethylglycine and DMG, generally at a dose between 100 to 500 mg. One morning I took three 750 mg pills of trimethylglycine (totaling 2250 mg) on an empty stomach with an ounce of fruit juice just to see if there were any side effects. An hour later I felt the onset of mild nausea. Drinking a few ounces of milk relieved the nausea. As the day progressed, I felt more energetic and realized that my mood was enhanced. In the evening I took my routine three-mile walk and noticed that I had a great deal of energy. I kept walking and ended up covering, twice my normal distance. The drawback was that at bedtime I was still alert and couldn’t sleep at all. I got out of bed several times throughout the night. I continued feeling the alertness well into the morning of the next day. Apparently 2,250 mg is a very high dose and can have effects on the brain lasting more than twenty-four hours. A positive effect from taking DMG or trimethylglycine  that I hadn’t expected was an enhancement in libido. When I take a sublingual form of DMG, I notice the onset of alertness within a half-hour.

The Chemistry of DMG and Trimethylglycine
DMG (dimethylglycine) is basically the amino acid glycine attached to two methyl groups while TMG has three methyl groups. In brief, choline (tetramethylglycine) has four methyl groups, and when it donates a methyl group it becomes Trimethylglycine and when Trimethylglycine donates a methyl group it becomes DMG. DMG, in turn, has two methyl groups left to methylate other substances in the body. Commonly these methyl groups are added to homocysteine, converting it into the amino acid methionine which is then converted to SAMe. SAMe is a nutrient available over the counter, which has been used as a powerful antidepressant. DMG plays a crucial role in the respiratory cycle of the cells, transporting oxygen and serving as a potent methyl donor. DMG acts as a building block for the synthesis of many important substances such as choline, SAM-e, the amino acid methionine, several hormones, neurotransmitters, and DNA. The formation of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine requires a methyl group donated by SAMe. Dopamine enhances sex drive. TMG (trimethylglycine), also known as betaine, is basically the amino acid glycine attached to three methyl groups. Simply, Trimethylglycine has one more methyl group than DMG.

Trimethylglycine Recommendations
Trimethylglycine and DMG are underutilized nutrients that hold a great deal of promise but unfortunately, few doctors are familiar with these nutrients. At this time the clinical uses of Trimethylglycine and DMG are not well defined and whether they would be helpful in the therapy of Alzheimer and Parkinson’s disease is not known. Since the body’s ability to methylate declines with age, supplements of Trimethylglycine or DMG in small amounts, such as 50 to 100 mg a day, may benefit middle aged and older individuals. I recommend not exceeding 250 mg of Trimethylglycine or DMG on a daily basis until more is known about these supplements. Your dose of Trimethylglycine and DMG should be reduced if you are taking B vitamins, SAMe, DMAE, or choline since all of these nutrients have overlapping functions.

Trimethylglycine Research
Trimethylglycine (Betaine) supplementation decreases plasma homocysteine concentrations but does not affect body weight, body composition, or resting energy expenditure in human subjects.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2002 Nov;76(5):961-7.
Betaine ( trimethylglycine ) is found in several tissues in humans. It is involved in homocysteine metabolism as an alternative methyl donor and is used in the treatment of homocystinuria in humans. In pigs, trimethylglycine decreases the amount of adipose tissue. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of trimethylglycine supplementation on body weight, body composition, plasma homocysteine concentrations, blood pressure, and serum total and lipoprotein lipids. DESIGN: Forty-two obese, white subjects (14 men, 28 women) treated with a hypoenergetic diet were randomly assigned to a trimethylglycine-supplemented group (6 g/d) or a control group given placebo for 12 wk. The intervention period was preceded by a 4-wk run-in period with a euenergetic diet. RESULTS: Body weight, resting energy expenditure, and fat mass decreased significantly in both groups with no significant difference between the groups. Plasma homocysteine concentrations decreased in the trimethylglycine group. Diastolic blood pressure decreased without a significant difference between the groups. Serum total and LDL-cholesterol concentrations were higher in the trimethylglycine group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: A hypoenergetic diet with trimethylglycine supplementation (6 g daily for 12 wk) decreased the plasma homocysteine concentration but did not affect body composition more than a hypoenergetic diet without trimethylglycine supplementation did.

Trimethylglycine Email questions
Q. I am wondering which has the more benefits as far as energy go, DMG or TMG? Also, are they to be taken with food or without for max benefits?
     A. DMG is usually available under the tongue and works quicker. They both can be taken with or without food. TMG usually provides more energy but each person is unique in their response.

Q. I've just read about Trimethyglycine on your site. I recently had blood work done and everything was great except my Homocysteine, which was 11.1. I want to lower it to the 6-7 range. I've been researching and found sites with TMG protocols of up to 6 grams along with B6 (100-500 mg), B12 (1000-3000 mcg), and folic acid (800-5000 mcg). My question: Does taking these supplements at these dosages have side effects? Especially the TMG, which is very high? One site mentioned someone who had a Homocysteine number of 18. He took TMG at 6 grams and 500 mg of B6 and lowered it to 4 in 60 days. I'm just curious as to your opinion of these kind of dosages. Your thoughts are appreciated. Your site is very informative.
     A. TMG at high doses can increase body temperature and cause irritability and insomnia. My preference is not to use TMG in a dosage greater than 750 mg daily. Also, massive doses of B vitamins are not required. A fraction of the doses mentioned in your email can be effective. Each person is unique in their response, though, and some require less, others more.

Q. You have mentioned in your book, Mind Boosters that DMG and Trimethylglycine are possibly capable of providing much of the same anti-depressant actions as SAM-e, for less cost. I read somewhere that the action of a dose of SAM-e may be enhanced by taking some MSM at the same time. My guess is that would be due to an increase in methylation. Do you think that taking some MSM along with DMG or Trimethylglycine would likewise increase the effects of the DMG or Trimethylglycine? Do you agree with the concept of adding the MSM to the SAM-e?
     A. You ask a  good question. I have tried finding scientific studies on MSM but the published information on this nutrient is extremely limited. I don't know too much about MSM's cognitive effects, although it is known that it can easily cross the blood-brain barrier. My brief personal experience with this nutrient for a few days did not indicate that it had much effect on mood--unlike DMG, Trimethylglycine, and SAM-e--but I need to emphasize that my experience was very limited. If you do try the combination of MSM with other methyl donors, please let me know if you find a synergistic effect. In the meantime, if I come across any other information, I will make sure to post it. If anyone has tried the combination, please email to me.

Q. I find that TMG in a high doses stimulates my brain too much. Even 500 mg seems to be too high for me.
     A. Yes, trimethylglycine can cause stimulation in some people even at a dose of 100 mg.

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