What Is Trimethylglycine? 

TMG is a compound made up of three methyl groups attached to glycine. It is produced by the body and can be found naturally in foods and plants. It is also produced as a supplement to take advantage of the health benefits.

The major importance of TMG is methylation. The process of methylation is essential for the production of DNA. It also promotes fluid balance, which allows for the proper growth of cells.

Apart from these, TMG has also been found to have effects on muscle growth, physical performance, energy level, and power growth. These effects have made TMG widely used for bodybuilding. It also functions closely with choline, folic acid, and vitamin B12.

What Is Methylation?

Methylation is an important biochemical process in the human body. This process involves the transfer of methyl groups from one molecule to another. Methyl groups are CH3 compounds that are made up of one carbon atom and three hydrogen atoms. 

The process of methylation is responsible for many important activities carried out by the body. Some of these are cell division, metabolism, DNA expression (epigenetics), producing cellular energy, forming neurotransmitters, clearing histamine, and producing antioxidants.

Methylation also helps to convert homocysteine into methionine. This helps to reduce the likelihood of heart disease and damaged blood vessels, which can be caused by high levels of homocysteine.

There is a "methyl pool" that serves as a center for storing methyl groups. When methyl groups are needed to be transferred, they are drawn from this pool. Methylation is usually not a problem as long as there are enough methyl groups in the pool. However, some people might have issues undergoing methylation, especially as they grow older. 

There are two major reasons why decreased methylation could occur which are:

1. MTHFR Variants

MTHFR (Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase) is a gene with different mutations. These mutations can cause the blood to have high levels of homocysteine and low levels of folate. 

There are two main MTHFR variants, which are heterozygous and homozygous. These variants are found around the world, but certain people are more affected by some variants than others. Around 40% of the world's population has one or both mutations. 

These MTHFR mutations do not mean that you require treatment, nor would you display symptoms of any disease. To increase methylation, you can use methylated B vitamin supplements or any other methyl donor.

2. Epigenetics and Aging

Epigenetics is the expression of DNA. Methylation plays an important role in epigenetics. Not that it changes the DNA sequencing, but it switches the different sequences of your genetic materials as required.

But methylation ability and epigenetics decline as we grow older. The changes in DNA expression are linked to biomarkers related to diseases, and this could contribute to health conditions caused by old age.

What Are the Health Benefits of TMG?

Several health and performance benefits have been linked to TMG. Some of them include:

Improved Heart Health

Studies have shown that TMG could help to decrease the level of homocysteine in the blood. Homocysteine is an amino acid, and high levels of this compound can increase the probability of getting heart disease. 

Lower homocysteine levels have been linked to lower risks of strokes and heart diseases. High levels of homocysteine can cause the arteries to get clogged and harden.

Improved Liver Health

The buildup of fat and fatty acids is caused by the symptoms of obesity, alcohol abuse, and diabetes. Although the liver retains some amount of fat as an energy reserve, too much can cause fatty liver disease.

It has been proven that TMG supplements can help the liver break down fatty acids. This reduces the risk of fatty acid accumulation. There have also been some cases of patients with liver damage who recovered after using TMG.

Improved Athletic Performance

It is not uncommon to find athletes using TMG supplements to help them enhance their performance. One study reported that using TMG supplements could help to improve body composition. They could also increase performance in exercises that have to do with endurance and resistance.

Because only initial studies have been carried out, the exact mechanisms are unclear. Another study speculates that TMG could reduce tiredness, increase the production of protein, and boost the formation of creatine. Creatine is a compound that provides the muscle cells with energy.

Reduced Resistance to Insulin

Insulin resistance is a condition whereby the body cannot use the hormone insulin to regulate the level of sugar in the blood. Much of the research carried out has discovered that the use of TMG supplements could help with insulin resistance. 

One such study showed that increasing your intake of betaine TMG and choline can reduce resistance to insulin. Another research on mice showed that TMG supplements could potentially be useful in reversing insulin resistance in the liver. This occurs when insulin cannot reduce sugar production in the liver.

Improved Mental Health

TMG has been found to improve how certain antidepressant medications work. It has been seen to boost the effects of S-adenosyl-methionine (SAMe) especially. SAMe is used to treat depression that is classified as mild to moderate.

People who take both SAMe and TMG are more likely to see greater improvement than those who take SAMe alone. Interestingly, the use of TMG supplements can help to reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression. These symptoms are usually linked to high levels of homocysteine, which TMG can help to reduce.

6 Foods That Can Help Boost NAD+

• Fish. Fish is an excellent source of niacin and tryptophan. ...

• Dairy Milk. Not particularly high in niacin, but it contains nicotinamide riboside, a form of niacin that is a major NAD+ precursor 

• Pork. 

• Beef.

• Turkey. 

• Whole Grains.

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.