Dimethylglycine is a non-protein amino acid naturally found in both animal and plant cells. Dimethylglycine is produced in cells as an intermediate in the metabolism of choline to glycine. See Also Vitamin B-15•
Dimethylglycine (a methyl donor)is a substance that can transfer a methyl group [a carbon atom attached to three hydrogen atoms (CH3)] to another substance. Methylation is a biochemical process that is essential to life, health, and regeneration of body cells. Vitamins, hormones, neurotransmitters, enzymes, nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), and antibodies depend on the transfer of methyl groups to complete their synthesis. Proper methylation of DNA may prevent the expression of harmful genes. Our body’s ability to methylate declines with age, contributing to the aging process.
Other methyl donors include TMG, SAM-e, and DMAE, folic acid and B12. Methyl donors help in the production of several brain chemicals and hence have an influence on sexual enjoyment, mood, energy, wellbeing, alertness, concentration, and visual clarity.
In Studies: Early findings that DMG can enhance both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses have been fortified by some research.
History: Dimethylglycine appeared as a supplement in the 1960s under the names vitamin B15, pangamic acid and calcium pangamate. Calcium pangamate was originally a mixture of calcium gluconate and DMG, intended as a delivery form of DMG. Calcium pangamate was popular with Russian athletes and cosmonauts because it was reputed to enhance oxygenation at the cellular level, reduce fatigue and enhance physical stamina.
Technicals: Dimethylglycine is also known as N, N-dimethylglycine, (dimethylamino)acetic acid and N-methylsarcosine.
Dimethylglycine should not be confused with TMG (trimethylglycine or betaine). TMG is involved in the methylation of homocysteine to form methionine (see Trimethylglycine). TMG (trimethylglycine), also known as betaine, where the amino acid glycine is attached to three methyl groups. TMG has one more methyl group than DMG.
DMG is absorbed from the small intestine and from there transported by the portal circulation to the liver. DMG is metabolized in the liver to monomethylglycine or sarcosine which, in turn, is converted to glycine. Dimethylglycine dehydrogenase, a flavoprotein, is the enzyme that catalyzes the oxidative demethylation of DMG to sarcosine. The methyl group produced in this reaction returns to the one carbon pool at the level of N10-hydroxymethyl-tetrahydrofolic acid. DMG itself is formed from trimethylglycine or betaine. DMG that is not metabolized in the liver is transported by the circulatory system to various tissues in the body. testing
Dimethylglycine is the amino acid glycine attached to two methyl groups. The body naturally produces DMG in small amounts. 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.
Sources: A nutrient commonly found in low levels in foods; cereal grains, liver and beans.
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