Aug 28, 2019 5:48:34 PM
Written By:
Dr. Roger Kendall
By Roger Kendall, PhD
Dimethylglycine (DMG) has been slowly making its way into clinical practices and is now recognized for its impressive collection of uses and health benefits.
Originally studied and used for competitive horse racing to support endurance and overall performance, DMG is now a part of many natural medicine supplements and dietary programs. Commonly used for stress support, enhanced energy levels, athletic performance, detoxification support, improved cardiovascular function, and more, one of the most fascinating and promising fields of study deals with DMG’s ability to improve cognitive health.
DMG is a powerful booster of mental, brain, and neurological function. It’s been found to support mental acuity, memory, cognition, and focus in both adults and children.1 DMG is comparable to caffeine in that it helps the body overcome mental fatigue rapidly.
DMG enhances the body’s production of creatine and phosphocreatine, a molecule essential for supplying the brain with fuel and enhancing mental energy. Interestingly, DMG taken as a supplement can cross the blood-brain barrier, making it highly effective for maximizing cognitive function and mental focus.
The brain consumes a large portion of the body’s production of creatine, phosphocreatine, and dimethylglycine. Dr. Roger Kendall, one of the world’s leading authorities on DMG, believes that while more research is needed, DMG taken in higher amounts will enhance phosphocreatine production and boost principle energy production within the brain, particularly when ATP is in short supply.
DMG produces building blocks for neurotransmitters, which are essential for maintaining a proper balance for the body to react to stress appropriately. DMG acts as a modulator and balances the production of neurotransmitters, which play a major role in brain function.
While this function of DMG is connected with various health benefits, its ability to improve blood circulation and oxygen utilization contribute to its role as a nutrient for brain health. Optimal circulation is a foundation for both achieving and maintaining peak brain function. DMG also works as a powerful antioxidant and decreases systemic inflammation, both of which aid the workings of a healthy brain.
More research related to DMGs impact on cognitive decline and neurodegenerative and behavioral conditions is needed, but what we’ve seen so far is promising. We know that DMG plays a role in improving a brain that’s under stress, which is likely an underlying factor to multiple neurological conditions.
The million-dollar question is if DMG can help support individuals with age-related cognitive decline. There isn’t enough research at this point to give a definitive answer, but it is obvious that it can optimize cognitive function for people of any age. Simple logic says that by keeping the brain healthier and functioning at its peak, it is possible to normal age-related cognitive decline over time.
When it comes to behavioral conditions, especially in children, it’s been shown that DMG can improve cognitive function, communication, and eye contact while reducing repetitive behavioral problems.2 The exact mechanisms are still not entirely understood, but it appears that DMG is actively aiding the transmission of nerve impulses and reducing stress on the brain.
Dr. Rimland of the Autism Research Society of San Diego, California has kept a record of parents who have filled out various surveys over time and has found that nearly 50% of people who have autism symptoms find improvement by using DMG.
Foods rich in trimethylglycine (TMG) or choline, are great because they convert to DMG in the body. With this in mind, the best food sources include quinoa and other seeds, organic liver, beets, wheat germ, eggs, spinach, and lamb.
These dietary sources provide the metabolic precursors necessary to produce DMG. However, for therapeutic purposes, DMG is often taken as a nutritional supplement due to the fact that direct food sources are scarce.
When looking at how to reduce stress on the body, whether that be immune system stress, cardiovascular stress, athletic stress, faulty liver function, or brain dysfunction, we know that DMG from both food precursors and supplementation supports peak function. For this reason, scientists have dubbed DMG as a ‘metabolic enhancer,’ as it acts as a catalytic boost to various metabolic pathways, including brain function. This is a very important benefit especially for those entering into their senior years.
Sources:
1Pete Maletto, Daniel Maiullo. “Composition and method for enhancing neuromuscular facilitation and cognitive functions.” October 2007. https://patents.google.com/patent/US20070248696A1/en. Accessed 25 July 2019.
2Roger V. Kendall, John W. Lawson. “Recent Findings on N,N-Dimethylglycine (DMG): A nutrient for the new millennium.” May 2000. https://www.vetriscience.com/white_papers/DMG_Townsend%20letter_2000.pdf. Accessed 24 July 2019.
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