Dimethylglycine

• Overview
• Uses
• Side Effects
• Precautions
• Dosing

Dimethylglycine is an amino acid, a building block for protein. It is found in the body in very small amounts and for only seconds at a time. People use dimethylglycine to make medicine.

Dimethylglycine is used for attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), epilepsy, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), allergies, respiratory disorders, pain and swelling (inflammation), cancer, alcoholism, and drug addiction. It is also used to improve speech and behavior in autism, nervous system function, liver function, the body's use of oxygen, and athletic performance. Some people use it to reduce stress and the effects of aging, as well as boost the immune system's defenses against infection. Dimethylglycine is also used to lower blood cholesterol and triglycerides, and to help bring blood pressure and blood sugar into normal range.

In the 1980s, a federal court in Chicago banned the interstate sale of a brand of dimethylglycine, stating that it was an unsafe food additive.

How does it work?

Dimethylglycine might help improve the way the body's immune system works.

Possibly Ineffective for...

• Treating epilepsy.
• Treating autism.
• Improving athletic performance.

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

• Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
• Cancer.
• Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
• Stress.
• Allergies.
• Breathing problems.
• Alcoholism.
• Drug addiction.
• High blood pressure.
• High cholesterol.
• Improving the body's immune system.
• Other conditions.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).

Dimethylglycine might be safe to use short-term, up to 28 days. The safety of long-term use is unknown.

The appropriate dose of dimethylglycine depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for dimethylglycine. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.