DMAE

Alternative names: Dimethylaminoethanol; brand names Deaner and Deanol.

DMAE supplements won't work for everybody and are not intended as a cure.  But they are safe and may be helpful.

Closely related to DEAE (Diethylamino-ethanol) in GH3, a European anti-aging drug.

Source

DMAE is found as a supplement, although it is not widely available.  It is sold in many health food stores.

It can take the form of tablet, liquid, cream, or capsule.  Tablets or capsules in doses of 50mg, 100mg, or 130mg should not be hard to find.  Pills containing 350mg or more of DMAE bitartrate, which typically contain about 130mg of "active" DMAE, are also available.

DMAE by itself is relatively inexpensive.  It is, however, sometimes sold in costly "brain-boosting formulas" that contain other supplements such as phosphatidylserine (PS) or acetyl-L-carnitine; these additions may or may not be right for you but they will definitely increase the cost of the product.

DMAE is a compound found in high levels in anchovies and sardines.  Small amounts of it are also naturally produced in the human brain.

Function; Why it is Recommended

Medical researchers have speculated that the means by which DMAE increases brain acetylcholine levels is by inhibiting choline metabolism in peripheral tissues, thereby allowing free choline to accumulate and subsequently enter the brain where it is converted to acetylcholine.

DMAE increases the concentration of choline in the bloodstream because it enhances the rate at which free choline enters the blood from other tissues.  DMAE increases the levels of choline in the brain due to DMAE's superior ability to cross the blood-brain barrier.

DMAE has been reported to offer the following benefits:

• Alleviates the behavioral problems and hyperactivity associated with Attention Deficit Disorder (increases attention span, decreases aggression, improves learning ability and sometimes increases intelligence in 70% of ADD patients).
• Inhibits and reverses the cross-linking of proteins.
• Decreases the incidence and severity of hangovers in people who consume excessive amounts of alcohol (subjects reported freedom from the depression or headaches associated with hangovers).
• Increases the body's production of energy.
• People who use DMAE supplements report that after 3-4 weeks of DMAE use, they notice a continual mild stimulation of their CNS without side effects and a possible boost energy.
• Alleviates anxiety (subjects administered 1,200mg of DMAE per day for 5 days exhibited better control of anxious reactivity)
• Increases assertiveness (subjects reported having a more outspoken personality).
• Reduces apathy and increases motivation in persons afflicted with depression.
• Improves creativity and verbal thinking (fluency).
• Improves the behavior and mental function of children afflicted with Down's Syndrome.
• Exerts favorable effects on those chronic dyskinesias (including tardive dyskinesia) that occur as a result of long periods of major tranquilizers use.
• Increases intelligence, improves learning and memory.(especially in children).  Several studies have shown no memory benefit in senile dementia and Alzheimer's Disease.
• Elevates mood.
• Reduces the amount of sleep required by about 1 hour per night, causes dreams to become more lucid (vivid), and users experience sounder sleep.
• Increases daytime motivation and physical energy in persons afflicted with insomnia.
• Increases willpower (subjects who previously were unable to stop smoking reported success).
• Increases acetylcholine levels within the brain.
• It is a cell wall stabilizer.
• Apparently removes lipofuscin (accumulation of toxic pigments) from cells, including nerve and brain cells (neurons), and age spots from the skin.
• Improves free-radical scavenging of other antioxidants.  Increases life span, including maximum life span, in experimental animals.  Has extended life span of older animals.

No deficiencies of DMAE have been reported or are believed to occur.

Instructions

DMAE supplementation is not recommended at this time.

Dosages start at 100mg per day and extend up to 600mg per day as needed.  Clinical studies of DMAE have used up to 1,600mg per day with no reports of side-effects and is believed to be relatively nontoxic.

Start slowly.  DMAE can over-stimulate the nervous system and cause headaches, tense muscles, or insomnia, although these side-effects are uncommon.  Drowsiness has also been reported.  Begin with a low dose and see how you respond before gradually increasing the amount you take.  If side-effects develop, stop taking the supplement for a day or two and begin at a lower dose.

For ADHD, memory problems or Alzheimer's: 100 to 300mg, taken orally twice a day.

Overdosage can produce insomnia.  Take in the morning to avoid this.  Take DMAE with meals for best absorption.  To help jump-start your day, open the capsules and pour the contents into a smoothie or fruit juice as part of your morning routine.

Although DMAE may help produce brain chemicals needed for mental sharpness, drowsiness, and cognitive impairment have been reported in some people.  See how it affects you before you drive or handle heavy machinery.

If you have kidney or liver disease, consult your doctor before taking DMAE.  These conditions can affect levels of the supplement in your body.

Expected Outcome; Side-Effects; Counter-Indicators and Warnings

Effects of supplementation are not immediate but should begin to be felt within several weeks.

Most people taking DMAE do not experience side-effects.  However, isolated adverse reactions have cropped up in different studies.  Drowsiness, confusion, and high blood pressure have occurred in people with Alzheimer's who were taking this supplement, particularly when high doses were used.  DMAE can be over-stimulating for some people.  Headaches, irritability, and tense muscles may result, including tightness in the jaw, neck, or shoulders.  Weight loss and insomnia may also occur.  Lucid dreams have also been reported.  These effects should disappear when intake is lowered or stopped.

At the time of writing, there were no well-known drug interactions with DMAE.

DMAE should not be used by epileptics or those with bipolar disorder (manic depression).  Maximum safe dosages for children or for pregnant or nursing mothers have not been established.