TMG Supplement - Trimethylglycine to Support Heart & Liver Health

TMG is a supplement containing trimethylglycine (betaine), a compound naturally present in the body. It is synthesised from choline, an essential nutrient grouped with the vitamin B complex.

What is trimethylglycine?

Trimethylglycine is an important cofactor for methylation, a biochemical process which takes place naturally in cells, in which a methyl group (CH₃) is added to a substrate. This kind of operation enables, for example, the synthesis of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, or the production of melatonin.

What is homocysteine and why do levels get worse with age?

Homocysteine is a sulphur-containing amino acid which circulates in human plasma, following the conversion – demethylation – of methionine, another amino acid provided by foods high in animal protein.

Homocysteine levels should normally be between 5 and 15mol/L of plasma, but higher levels are often seen in Western populations, as a result of several factors:

• deficiency in vitamins B9, B6 and B12 (1-3) which results in moderate hyperhomocysteinaemia. Almost a fifth of over-60s are affected;
• a diet too high in animal-source products;
• certain disorders such as diabetes and hypothyroidism;
• an inevitable, age-related rise in total homocysteine.

The body is equipped with two natural weapons for reducing these levels:

1. It re-methylates homocysteine using the enzyme methionine synthase, which requires vitamins B12 and B9 to be available.
2. It re-methylates homocysteine using the enzyme betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase , which requires natural trimethylglycine. The methionine is then converted into SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine).

How exactly do high homocysteine levels damage our health?

Hyperhomocysteinaemia has scientifically-documented adverse effects on vascular health (4). In particular, it promotes atherogenesis (the formation of lipoprotein deposits called atheromas, on artery walls) and thus increases the risk of cardiovascular problems by intervening at various stages:

• contributing to increased proliferation of smooth muscle cells;
• playing a role in endothelial dysfunction with decreased production of NO;
• increased synthesis of collagen and deterioration of artery wall elasticity;
• production of oxidative stress with lipid peroxidation.

How should the supplement TMG be taken?

We recommend taking between one and three tablets a day as required, and according to your health professional’s recommendations.

It’s advisable to also take a multivitamin such as CoEnzymated B Formula providing significant doses of vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid, as they are all involved in the methylation cycle. You could also take a folic acid supplement,as it is the most effective complementary supplement to TMG.

Alongside supplementation, we’d suggest taking the following steps to lower your risk of cardiovascular disease:

• Maintain a healthy weight, making sure you reduce abdominal fat which surrounds the viscera and which is more harmful for the heart than fat stored elsewhere in the body.
• Eat a healthy diet. Diet has a considerable influence on blood lipid levels and thus the risk of cardiovascular problems.
• Get sufficient, restorative sleep. Poor sleep contributes to increased body fat and a higher cardiovascular risk.
• Take specific supplements, if you have a moderate or high risk of cardiovascular problems, such as phytosterols, marine-source omega-3s, white willow bark (Nature’s aspirin) or the excellent Triple Protect.