Vitamin B15 (Pangamic Acid)

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Summary

Pangamic acid, which has also been referred to as B15, has no widely accepted chemical identity - it is considered not an identifiable substance by the FDA. Different substances have all been sold under the name Pangamic acid. There is also some evidence to suggest Pangamic acid could be dangerous and potentially carcinogenic.

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


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

G&G is willing to supply or manufacture DMG and products marketed as B16.


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

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.

caption

Pangamic Acid (or Pangamate)

This compound was patented in the 1950s by the Krebses, who then termed it vitamin B15 themselves. It is not recognized as a vitamin[4] as it not essential to life – in fact there is no scientific evidence[5] of any real nutritional value. There is also no data to support the various claims made by Krebs of pangamic acid as a ‘cure-all’.

According to the FDA[6], there is no accepted chemical identity for pangamic acid that has been determined, and as such it is considered “not an identifiable substance”. Suppliers have been known to sell different chemical compounds all under the name ‘pangamic acid’. Due to the dubious nature of pangamic acid, the FDA has made attempts to take it off the market entirely, and has recommended the seizure of any chemicals being advertised as pangamic acid.

There is also no proven way of manufacturing what Krebs claims is pangamic acid[7] – attempts by other researchers to synthesise it using Krebs’ patented method all proved unsuccessful, which demonstrates that the supposed method is not reproducible or reliable.

Pangamic acid does appear to be quite popular in the athletic community as somewhat of a ‘natural performance enhancer’, with claims it can improve exercise endurance[8]. However, in a double-blind study by Northern Kentucky University[9][10], it was concluded that pangamic acid does not improve short-term exercise performance.

In conclusion, despite claims for pangamic acid as a ‘cure-all’, all evidence of this appears to be purely anecdotal and not backed by proper research. In fact, Krebs has even been labelled a conman[11], and has promoted several substances as cancer cures and cure-alls. There is also evidence to suggest that pangamic acid is actually unsafe – an assay has shown that chemicals like pangamic acid have a 90% probability of being carcinogenic[12].

Due to all the controversy surrounding it, G&G will not supply, or manufacture products marketed as containing, pangamic acid or any derivative thereof. This also extends to products marketed as B15.

Dimethylglycine (DMG)

Upon the discovery of DMG, it was referred to as vitamin B16. It has also been labelled alongside pangamic acid as B15[13]. 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[14], 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[15], 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[16] 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[17][18].

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[19][20].

G&G is willing to supply, or manufacture products containing, DMG – unless the product is marketed towards those who are pregnant or breast-feeding. G&G is also willing to manufacture products marketed as B16 if they contain DMG.

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
  3. Vitamins and minerals - B vitamins and folic acid - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
  4. PANGAMIC ACID: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews (webmd.com) Accessed 19/01/2023
  5. Pangamic acid (“vitamin B15”) | The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition | Oxford Academic (oup.com) Accessed 19/01/2023
  6. CPG Sec. 457.100 Pangamic Acid and Pangamic Acid Products Unsafe for Food and Drug Use | FDA Accessed 19/01/2023
  7. Controversies in nutrition : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive Accessed 19/01/2023
  8. Pangamic Acid: Health Benefits, Side Effects, Uses, Dose & Precautions (rxlist.com) Accessed 19/01/2023
  9. The effect of pangamic acid on maximal treadmill performance - PubMed (nih.gov) Accessed 19/01/2023
  10. Gray 1982 - B15 Myth or Miracle.pdf (tahomaclinic.com) Accessed 19/01/2023
  11. Ernst T. Krebs - Wikipedia Accessed 19/01/2023
  12. Vitamin B15—whatever it is, it won't help | JAMA | JAMA Network Accessed 19/01/2023
  13. Earl Mindell’s New Vitamin Bible (2011 Reprint)
  14. Dimethylglycine | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (mskcc.org) Accessed 19/01/2023
  15. Effectiveness of N,N-dimethylglycine in autism and pervasive developmental disorder - PubMed (nih.gov) Accessed 19/01/2023
  16. Relationship of dimethylglycine, choline, and betaine with oxoproline in plasma of pregnant women and their newborn infants - PubMed (nih.gov) Accessed 19/01/2023
  17. Immunomodulating properties of dimethylglycine in humans - PubMed (nih.gov) Accessed 19/01/2023
  18. Stimulation of the immune response by dimethylglycine, a nontoxic metabolite - PubMed (nih.gov) Accessed 19/01/2023
  19. DIMETHYLGLYCINE (DMG): Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews (webmd.com) Accessed 19/01/2023
  20. Dimethylglycine: Health Benefits, Side Effects, Uses, Dose & Precautions (rxlist.com) Accessed 19/01/2023
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