Dimethylglycine (B16)

Summary

G&G is willing to supply or manufacture Dimethylglycine (DMG) and products marketed as B16. However, this product should not be marketed towards pregnant or breast-feeding individuals, as there have been no extensive studies proving its safety.

In some texts, Pangamic acid and Dimethylglycine are referred to interchangeably. However, they are two different chemicals.

Due to the dubious and potentially dangerous nature of pangamic acid (B15), G&G will not supply or manufacture products marketed as containing B15 or pangamic acid.

For a deeper look into this topic, please see the research laid out below.

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Vitamins B15 and B16

For something to be classified as a vitamin it must meet two criteria: it must be essential for life, and it must not be manufactured by the body^[1] (either at all, or only in negligible quantities). Typically, we take vitamins into our diet through foods or supplements.

According to this criteria, vitamins B15 and B16 are not recognised as vitamins^[2][3], as they are not essential to the regular function of the human body, or can be created by the human body. However, products can be marketed as B15 or B16 if they contain the appropriate ingredients.

We can refer to these by their chemical names - B15; Pangamic Acid, and B16; Dimethylglycine.

Pangamic Acid vs. Dimethylglycine

There has been some confusion between the two, with both being referred to interchangeably in some texts.

Pangamic acid is a derivative of dimethylglycine – when dimethylglycine is combined with gluconic acid, the result is pangamic acid.

Dimethylglycine (DMG)

Upon the discovery of DMG, it was referred to as vitamin B16. It has also been labelled alongside pangamic acid as B15^[4]. However, it cannot be classified as a vitamin as it is made by the human body, and it is not essential to life. DMG has many supposed uses^[5], however there is little to no scientific evidence to support these claims. As an example, one alleged benefit of DMG is the treatment of autism spectrum disorders - however in a double-blind study^[6], there was no significant change seen in children treated with DMG.

Although DMG does not appear to have any proven health benefits itself, it does have a link to the amino acid Glycine. Amino acids are the building blocks of life; all living things need amino acids to carry out bodily functions. A study performed on pregnant women^[7] discovered that DMG helps to contribute Glycine to human development. DMG is also being studied with promising potential as an addition to vaccines and other immunotherapies as a way to make these treatments more effective^[8][9].

DMG doesn’t seem to have any controversies surrounding it like pangamic acid does, and is safe to supplement when used short-term. The safety of long-term use has yet to be fully determined. There have been no extensive studies into the possible effects of supplementing DMG in pregnant or breast-feeding individuals, so it would be advised to avoid its use in these circumstances^[10][11].

G&G is willing to supply, or manufacture products containing, DMG. G&G is also willing to manufacture products marketed as B16 if they contain DMG.

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References

1. Vitamins and Minerals | The Nutrition Source | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Accessed 18/01/2023
2. B Vitamins | The Nutrition Source | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Accessed 19/01/2023
3. Vitamins and minerals - B vitamins and folic acid - NHS Accessed 19/01/2023
4. Earl Mindell’s New Vitamin Bible (2011 Reprint)
5. Dimethylglycine | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Accessed 19/01/2023
6. Effectiveness of N,N-dimethylglycine in autism and pervasive developmental disorder - PubMed Accessed 19/01/2023
7. Relationship of dimethylglycine, choline, and betaine with oxoproline in plasma of pregnant women and their newborn infants - PubMed Accessed 19/01/2023
8. Immunomodulating properties of dimethylglycine in humans - PubMed Accessed 19/01/2023
9. Stimulation of the immune response by dimethylglycine, a nontoxic metabolite - PubMed Accessed 19/01/2023
10. DIMETHYLGLYCINE (DMG): Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews Accessed 19/01/2023
11. Dimethylglycine: Health Benefits, Side Effects, Uses, Dose & Precautions Accessed 19/01/2023