By Dr. Roger Kendall
The autism spectrum includes a wide range of behavioral characteristics, neurological impairments, and digestive disorders.
It’s a complex developmental disorder with impaired communication and social skills being hallmarks of the condition. It affects behavioral and neurological functions in both the body and the brain, as well as how an individual receives and absorbs messages.
There are so many factors that contribute to the challenges of autism, trying to mitigate the symptoms of autism becomes uniquely difficult.
Tips and Overview Patients and Families. Much of the current interest in megavitamin B6 therapy for autistic children stems from the publication of our report (Autism Research Institute) in the American Journal of Psychiatry in 1978.This double-blind evaluation of B6, like our 1973 study, provided experimental evidence that B6 was helpful. Dimethylglycine (DMG) is an amino acid found naturally in plant and animal cells and in many foods such as beans, cereal grains, and liver. It is used to improve energy, boost the immune system, and to manage seizures and autism. There are some positive reports of DMG efficacy on the immune system. A third clinical trial conducted more recently, involving 84 subjects, found that DMG decreased problematic behaviours in those with autism (Edelson, 2002). There is also anecdotal evidence from parents, medical professionals, and caretakers suggesting that DMG does provide benefits for some children with autism (Autism Research Institute, 2011). Dimethyl glycine (DMG) and trimethyl glycine (TMG) are nutritional supplements that are sometimes suggested to treat ASD. Some small studies found no effect when compared with a placebo 1. Melatonin supplements can help to reduce sleep dysfunction in children with autism. Poor sleep worsens symptoms, such as repetitive behavior and social problems. Repair of the cell membrane is an important part of improving sensory issues and motor planning issues in children with autism, ADHD and sensory integration disorder; DMG and TMG. Dimethylglycine (DMG) and trimethylglycine (TMG) donate methyl groups to the methylation cycle. TMG is needed to recycle homocysteine and help produce SAMe.
Tag Archives: DMG. Biomedical Treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorders. Posted on July 25, 2011 by EJ Banon. What is Biomedical treatment? There is a lot of hype about treating Autism Spectrum Disorders with Bio-Medical treatments. So what are Biomedical treatments and how do they help with the common traits and symptoms of an Autism Spectrum. Though TMG, DMG, and DMAE are not officially B vitamins, they are water-soluble nutrients which are safe, occur naturally in the brain, and are often helpful in children with autism related disorders. Both TMG and DMG help improve immune function, and may improve speech, awareness, and attention.
Autism Has No Universal Approach to Care
Because the autism spectrum is so broad and complex, no universal approach to care is going to fit the needs of each child affected by autism. Many different elements enter into the bigger picture, so recognizing and diagnosing what makes each particular case unique is critical to remediating the associated conditions.
The list goes on and on; there are genetic disorders, neurological, immunological, and even gastrointestinal factors. So as a practitioner, and even as a parent, you have to approach treatment of the symptoms with a wide brush until you can develop a refined program that works for that individual child.
DMG and Autism
Dimethylglycine (DMG) is an amino acid that is an essential part of the metabolic pathway. It’s so important in relation to autism because it’s a one-carbon-donator that directly affects the methylation pathways, the immune system, and detoxification pathways.
Methylation
The importance of methylation can’t be understated; we could write a separate post focusing on it alone. Methylation plays a role in the reversal of many degenerative conditions, and it impacts a wide range of factors that help to establish what functional medical practitioners consider good health and well-being. In short, DMG supports methylation.
Immunological Imbalances
Many autistic children suffer from immunological imbalances. Their bodies often have trouble dealing with viruses and bacteria that other (non-autistic) children would more easily handle. Children with autism seem to have an impaired ability to develop a robust immune system.
A number of published studies have shown DMG to enhance and improve impaired immune systems. The beauty of it is that it has been shown to enhance antibody production (B Cells) as well as T Cells, which produce specific protein molecules that help keep the immune system strong and defend the body from outside invaders.
Detoxification and Anti-Inflammatory Benefits
One of the most well-known factors that lead to autism is exposure to environmental toxins. Heavy metals, pesticides, and chlorinated hydrocarbons are linked to major cognitive and neurological disorders along with inflammation and immune system issues
Dimethylglycine is an anti-inflammatory that helps isolate free radicals. On top of that, DMG is one of the principal building blocks for the production of glutathione. The liver produces glutathione as one of the body’s primary detoxifying agents and antioxidants. DMG also helps increase oxygenation and reduces levels of lactic acid.
Dmg And Autism Program
These are all factors that contribute to a variety of disorders and can cause aberrations in autistic children. Dimethylglycine is a biomedical intervention, but sometimes the body just isn’t producing enough of it. Under these circumstances, providing DMG as a supplement can help the patient reap the benefits and biomedical enhancements that adequate levels of this particular amino acid impart.
A great example of DMG’s impact on the immune response is when Dimethylglycine is given to an individual along with the Pneumovax vaccine, the patient receiving the DMG has a fourfold increase in antibody response to pneumococcal vaccine. Other studies have shown even greater extents of improvements, so DMG is extremely effective at improving methylation, the immune system, and detoxification.
DMG and the GI Tract
Gut issues and GI tract impairment are affected by diet and antibiotics. Heavy metals are also factors, and they’re a constant issue for the body, found in a number of sources, including vaccines. By the age of two, some children are issued between 30-40 vaccines all of which can contain thimerosal, which is a preservative that contains mercury. Many also include adjuvants with aluminum or other heavy metals.
Because gut dysfunction is often a result of a partially blocked methylation process, DMG can help to balance GI tract issues. Additionally, the detoxification and glutathione support it provides can help the body reduce its levels of heavy metals and environmental chemicals.
With that said, DMG doesn’t work alone. It is a precursor to SAM-e, and there are some enzymes, vitamins, and cofactors such as vitamin B12 and folic acid which help transfer the methyl groups to SAM-e. So, if the patient is deficient in any of these lateral areas, supplementing with DMG could cause Dimethylglycine to build up and result in other imbalances.
Factoring It All Together
DMG can help behavioral disorders in a number of ways:
- Improved speech communication
- Improved social skills
- Improved eye contact
- Improved quality sleep
- Reduced hyperactivity
- Reduced, in some cases, repetitive habits
And it doesn’t take a long time for patients to see positive results. DMG begins working in days, not weeks. DMG has been shown to be particularly helpful with symptoms such as repetitive behavior and impaired communication skills. In fact, studies done by Dr. Rimland showed that 45% of 6000 parents with autistic children who gave their children DMG supplements reported significant improvements.
When we consider how complex autism is, and how many different things can contribute to its array of symptoms, significant improvements in nearly half of all patients is an astounding number. There are a number of DMG supplements available on the market, but some are better than others. The best DMG supplements for targeting behavior combine many of the essential cofactors and are created based upon research on the optimization of methylation pathways.
DMG supplementation isn’t going to work for every patient. But it is something that practitioners can test with a trial period. If it doesn’t work, they can still utilize this information to create a plan that works for that specific child—the problem causing the symptoms may not be related to the methylation pathways. However, if the problem does have to do with methylation, DMG and adjacent supplementation may provide significant benefits to the patient.
DMG or dimethylglycine or Vitamin B-15 is a protein that has been shown to have some powerful health benefits including helping with autism, boosting our immune system, giving a person more energy and stamina, and helping with weight loss, kidney disease, anti-inflammatory, slows the aging process, helps with diabetes, cardiovascular disease and so much more.
What is it made from - Most of the time DMG is made from plant sources and processed from beans and other plants to create a powerful healing agent. And DMG is actually made in the body naturally in small amounts through the Krebs cycle but it breaks down very quickly.
Super Oxygenation and Sports Enhancement - DMG helps the body to utilize more fuel and oxygen thus helping muscles to be powerful and more efficient. It has been said that the Russians where using DMG to make their athletes more powerful for the olympics. And it also helps to decrease lactic acid formation in the body thus making it easy for athletes to go for long periods of time without having aches, pains, and a lack of stamina.
Promotes Hormone Production - DMG also helps the body to produce more hormones and regulate hormones.
Immune System Booster - DMG is a powerful immune system booster and a good anti-fungal agent, antibacterial, and anti-viral agent.
Helps with Diabetes - DMG helps to regulate blood sugar and increases the production of insulin.
Great for Cardiovascular Health - DMG helps to lower cholesterol and trigs and also increases circulation and even helps lower blood pressure.
Slows the Aging Process - DMG also slows the aging process by being a powerful antioxidant, being a powerful adaptogen, and increasing circulation and oxygen utilization.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Similar Diseases - Some have also found that DMG can help with CFS, fibromyalgia, and other immune mediated diseases.
Anti-inflammatory - DMG is also a good anti-inflammatory agent helping with arthritis, cardiovascular disease, strokes, and even cancer. All disease starts out with inflammation and thus DMG helps to prevent disease in general.
Helps with Autoimmune Disease - DMG helps to regulate the immune system thus helping with lupus and other autoimmune diseases.
Great for Neurological Disease - DMG helps to prevent seizures, boosts up hormone and neurotransmitter production, and increases oxygen utilization and circulation.
Autism - There are many people who feel that DMG can help heal autism. If you look for testimonials about children being healed of autism with DMG there are lots of them on-line and on youtube.
Cancer - Because DMG is a powerful antioxidant it helps the immune system to fight off the hundreds of cancers that try to take over every day.
Drugs and Alcohol Addiction - There is some evidence that DMG can also help with alcohol and drug addition by lowering cravings.
Helps with Respiratory Disease - DMG also helps the lungs to function better and thus helps with asthma, bronchitis, and lung disease.
Helps with Stress - Being a powerful adaptogen DMG helps the body cope with the rigors of stress, and helps the body produce nutrients the body needs to build tissues.
Helps with Lots of Diseases - And there are so many diseases that DMG can help with— you will find lots of testimonies to this on-line—if you can think of a disease DMG can probably help.
No Side Effects - Taken in normal doses DMG does not have any side effects that we know of. But it should not be taken by women who are pregnant, nursing or extremely young children—unless directed by a health care provider. And DMG should not be taken with any kind of dairy product which negates the effects of DMG.
Finding - Most health food stores carry DMG or can order it. And DMG can be found on-line by googling 'Buy DMG Supplement' and lots of places will come up including Amazon and Ebay.
Forms - DMG usually comes in tablets that can be swallowed or chewable tablets.
Dose - Most people take from 250 mg to 1,500 mg daily. It's been shown that DMG should be taken for 28 days, and then take a week off, and if needed come back to the supplement. Remember everything has to be processed by our liver even food... so it's best to be kind to our liver and live a long happy life. And remember we are all different, some people don't do well with some types of antibiotics and others do, and some don't get along with certain anti-depressant medications and others do— and the same goes for herbs and supplements we are all different.
Dmg Autismo
Testimonials - See testimonials on-line of people who've had great success taking DMG and there are lots of them... google 'Testimonials for DMG Supplement'.
Dr. Paul Haider - Master Herbalist
Feel Free to Share - This information is meant to get you started so you can do more research on your own... dig a little deeper and find what works for you. This article is for educational purposes only, I strongly recommend that you seek advice from your own GP, private doctor, or medical specialist for any ailment, illness, or medical condition.. this article not meant to be a scientific analysis in any way, shape, or form.
Dmg Autism Success Stories
Dr. Paul Haider – Master Herbalist and Spiritual Teacher for over 25 years, helping people to recover and feel healthy. You can also find Dr. Haider on FB under Dr. Paul Haider, Healing Herbs, and at www.paulhaider.com – feel free to connect with him anytime.
Dmg Autism Recovery
Here is a short video bio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rK6Eg-xlX3U