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TMG (Trimethylglycine)

Proposed Uses: High Homocysteine Levels; Alcoholic Liver Disease; Enhancing Sports Performance; Non-alcoholic Steatosis; Substitute for SAMe

TMG (trimethylglycine), also called betaine, is a substance manufactured by the body. It helps break down another naturally occurring substance called homocysteine.

In certain rare genetic conditions, the body cannot dispose of homocysteine, resulting in its accumulation to extremely high levels. This in turns leads to accelerated cardiovascular disease and other problems. Oral TMG is an FDA approved treatment for this condition. It “methylates” homocysteine, removing it from circulation.

Meaningful, but not altogether consistent, evidence suggests that the relatively slight elevation of homocysteine that can occur in healthy people is also harmful.6 On this basis, it has been suggested that TMG might reduce heart disease risk in healthy people as well. However, this has not been proven, and TMG has shown the potential for having adverse effects on cholesterol profile, which could counter any possible benefit via homocysteine.

NOTE: TMG is similar chemically to betaine hydrochloride, but it has entirely different actions

Sources
TMG is not required in the diet because the body can manufacture it from other nutrients. Grains, nuts, seeds, and meats contain small amounts of TMG. However, most TMG in food is destroyed during cooking or processing, so food isn't a reliable way to get a therapeutic dosage.

After TMG has done its work on homocysteine, it is turned into another substance, dimethylglycine (DMG). Some manufacturers will tell you that DMG is identical to TMG, but this isn't true. DMG is not a methylating agent, so it can't have any effect on homocysteine.

Therapeutic Dosages
Optimal therapeutic dosages of TMG are not known. Common recommendations range from 375 and 3,000 mg daily.

Therapeutic Uses
There is no doubt that TMG greatly reduces homocysteine levels and improves health among people with the rare disease cystathionine beta-synthase deficiency (as well as related conditions). TMG also appears to reduce relatively mild homocysteine elevations in people without genetic defects. However, TMG also seems to worsen cholesterol profile, and this may counteract any possible benefits. For this reason, if you have elevated levels of homocysteine, it may make more sense to reduce it by taking supplemental folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12; these supplements are known to reduce homocysteine levels, and, unlike TMG, they provide nutritional benefit as well.

TMG may help protect the liver against the effects of alcohol, perhaps by stimulating the formation of SAMe. In addition, it may be helpful for non-alcoholic forms of fatty liver (non-alcoholic steatosis) as well.

TMG has also been suggested as a less expensive substitute for SAMe in other condition for which SAMe is used (such as osteoarthritis and depression). However, there is no evidence to show that it is effective.

A substance labeled “pangamic acid” or vitamin B15 has been extensively used as a performance enhancer by Russian athletes, and has also become popular among American athletes. However, it is not clear there really is any such substance; or, to state it another way, various substances have at various times been given that name. Most recently, the term has been associated with a mixture of calcium gluconate and DMG; one small study failed to find this form of pangamic acid effective for enhancing sports performance.

Safety Issues
The only known safety issue with TMG is the issure regarding cholesterol profile already mentioned. People with high or borderline-high cholesterol should use TMG only with caution.

Maximum safe dosages for young children, pregnant or nursing mothers, or those with severe liver or kidney disease have not been established.

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