Dimethylglycine (also known as DMG) is a derivative of the amino acid glycine. It is found naturally in plant and animal cells and in certain foods such as beans, cereal grains, and liver.
Dimethylglycine acts as a building block for many important substances in the body including amino acids, hormones and neuro-transmitters. It also appears to play an important role in neurological functions and in the immune system.
Some people think that some individuals on the autism spectrum have a range of nutritional and metabolic problems. These include low levels of nutrients, high levels of oxidative stress (a chemical state within cells that can increase cellular damage) and difficulties with metabolic processes (such as digestion).
Some people think that these nutritional and metabolic differences may be the cause of some of the core features of autism (such as impaired communication and social difficulties) and related issues (such as challenging behaviours).
They also believe that by taking dietary supplements, such as dimethylglycine, they can reduce some of those symptoms. However, the exact mechanism by which dimethylglycine might do this is unclear
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This glossary is designed to explain some of the jargon and gobbledygook used by some people when they talk about autism or research..
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