Dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) as a dietary supplement
Dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) is a natural substance marketed as a dietary supplement, primarily for its proposed benefits in enhancing cognitive function and addressing disorders such as attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). DMAE is believed to increase levels of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter linked to memory and mood regulation, although scientific support for this claim is limited. It is available in various forms at pharmacies and health food stores, with recommended dosages ranging from 400 to 1,800 milligrams per day.
While some studies indicate potential benefits of DMAE for ADD, including improved test scores in children, research regarding its effectiveness for other conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease, tardive dyskinesia, and Huntington's chorea, has largely yielded negative results. Reports of adverse effects, such as confusion, drowsiness, and elevated blood pressure, have raised safety concerns, particularly for individuals with certain medical histories, including epilepsy. Overall, while DMAE is available as a supplement, its efficacy and safety remain topics of debate, making it essential for potential users to approach its use with caution and to consult healthcare professionals before starting any new supplement regimen.
Dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) as a dietary supplement
- DEFINITION: Natural substance promoted as a dietary supplement for specific health benefits.
- PRINCIPAL PROPOSED USE: Attention deficit disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
- OTHER PROPOSED USES: Alzheimer’s disease, cosmetics, Huntington’s chorea, tardive dyskinesia
Overview
DMAE (2-dimethylaminoethanol) is a natural chemical that has been used to treat a number of conditions affecting the brain and central nervous system. Like other such treatments, it is thought to work by increasing the production of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, although this has not been proven.
Sources
DMAE is sold in pharmacies, health food stores, and online as a nutritional supplement.
Therapeutic Dosages
Manufacturers’ recommended dosages and those used in clinical studies vary between 400 and 1,800 milligrams (mg) daily.
Therapeutic Uses
Some evidence suggests that DMAE may be helpful for attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). More widely marketed as a memory and mood enhancer, DMAE is said to improve intellectual functioning; however, there are no clinical studies that support its use for these purposes. The basis for such claims probably stems from its purported ability to increase levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Drugs and supplements called cholinergics that increase acetylcholine have been used to treat Alzheimer’s disease, tardive dyskinesia, and Huntington’s chorea. Because DMAE was believed to be a cholinergic, it has been tried for all of these disorders. However, well-designed, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies have yielded almost entirely negative results. In addition, there is some controversy over whether DMAE really increases acetylcholine.
Scientific Evidence
Attention deficit disorder. There is some evidence that DMAE may be helpful for ADD, according to studies performed in the 1970s. Two such studies were reported in a review article on DMAE. Fifty children aged six to twelve years who had been diagnosed with hyperkinesia (their modern diagnosis would likely be ADHD) participated in a double-blind study comparing DMAE with a placebo. The dose was increased from 300 to 500 mg daily by the third week and was continued for ten weeks. Evaluations revealed statistically significant test score improvements in the treatment group compared with the placebo group.
Another double-blind study compared DMAE with both methylphenidate (Ritalin) and placebo in seventy-four children described as having unspecified “learning disabilities” (also probably what would be considered modern ADHD). The study found significant test score improvement for both treatment groups in a ten-week period. Positive results were also seen in a small open study.
Alzheimer’s disease. Most people age forty years and older experience some memory loss, but Alzheimer’s disease is much more serious, leading to severe mental deterioration (dementia) in older adults. Microscopic examination of this condition shows that in the areas of the brain involved in higher thought processes, nerve cells have died and disappeared, particularly cells that release the chemical acetylcholine. Drugs such as tacrine and danazol and supplements such as huperzine A are used for Alzheimer’s based on their ability to increase acetylcholine levels. Because DMAE is also thought to increase acetylcholine, trials have been performed to test its effectiveness for the same purpose. However, there is no real evidence that it works.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving twenty-seven people with Alzheimer’s disease tested DMAE as a treatment. Thirteen participants were placed in the group receiving DMAE; however, six of them had to drop out of the study because of side effects such as drowsiness, increased confusion, and elevated blood pressure. In those completing the trial, no differences were seen between the treatment group and those taking a placebo.
Tardive dyskinesia. Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a potentially permanent side effect of drugs used to control schizophrenia. This late-developing (tardy, or tardive) complication consists of annoying, uncontrollable movements (dyskinesias), particularly in the face.
Based on its reported cholinergic effect, DMAE has been proposed as a treatment for TD. Although some case reports and open studies seem to suggest that DMAE might be useful for this purpose, properly designed studies using double-blind methods and placebo control groups have not borne this out. Of twelve double-blind studies reviewed, only one found DMAE to be significantly effective when compared with placebo. A meta-analysis of proposed treatments for TD found DMAE to be no more effective than placebo. It seems likely, though not entirely certain, that the benefits seen in open studies and individual cases were the result of a placebo effect. However, it is also possible that some particular persons respond well to DMAE, even if most people do not.
Huntington’s chorea. Huntington’s chorea is a genetically inherited disease that results in personality changes and, somewhat similarly to TD, uncontrolled spastic movements. It does not usually become symptomatic until a person is in their late thirties or older, although about 10 percent of people with Huntington’s begin to show signs of the disorder in childhood or adolescence. DMAE was not found to be an effective treatment for Huntington’s chorea in double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, although mixed results have been obtained using DMAE in open trials.
Safety Issues
Many clinical investigations using DMAE reported that participants experienced no side effects, though researchers found adverse reactions, which suggests some caution is appropriate when using this supplement. One study reported increased confusion, drowsiness, and elevated blood pressure; another study reported headache and muscle tension as possible adverse effects; and another study suggested that weight loss and insomnia may accompany the use of DMAE. There is also one case report of a woman who developed severe TD after taking DMAE for ten years for a hand tremor. Additionally, a number of manufacturers warn against the use of DMAE by people with epilepsy or a history of convulsions. Furthermore, maximum safe dosages for young children, pregnant or nursing women, and people with severe liver or kidney disease have not been established.
Bibliography
Grossman, Rachel. "The Role of Dimethylaminoethanol in Cosmetic Dermatology." American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, vol. 6, no. 1, 2005, pp. 39-47, doi:10.2165/00128071-200506010-00005. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Martorana, A., Z. Esposito, and G. Koch. "Beyond the Cholinergic Hypothesis: Do Current Drugs Work in Alzheimer's Disease?" CNS Neuroscience and Therapeutics, vol. 16, 2010, pp. 235-245.
Nank, Kelsey, reviewer. "Can DMAE Help Your Mental Health?" Healthline, 7 Oct. 2024, www.healthline.com/health/senior-health/dmae. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Shipkowski, K. A., et al. "Comparative Disposition of Dimethylaminoethanol and Choline in Rats and Mice Following Oral or Intravenous Administration." Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, vol. 378, 2019, p. 114592, doi:10.1016/j.taap.2019.05.011. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.