Questions Regarding Potential Anti Aging Effects of DMAE

Dear Dr. Dean, In response to the recent article regarding DMAE, I’d like to share my experience.I began supplementing with DMAE after reading previous VRP articles. However, I now notice a surface film on my urine that occurs only after taking DMAE. I no longer supplement with DMAE. Subsequently, I found research indicating that DMAE significantly inhibits betaine production in the kidney, and suggesting that betaine is an important regulatory kidney solute (see this link: http://physrev.physiology.org/cgi/content/abstract/78/1/247). As you know, betaine also facilitates homocysteine metabolism, liver functioning, and so on. This study presumably suggests that DMAE reduces the lifespan of quail: J Gerontol. 1977 Jan;32(1):38-45. Effects of dimethylaminoethanol upon life-span and behavior of aged Japanese quail. Cherkin A, Exkardt MJ. Furthermore, this study presumably suggests that DMAE is associated with a mild increase in blood pressure: Fisman M, Mersky H, Helmes E. Double-blind trial of 2-dimethylaminoethanol in Alzheimer’s disease. Am J Psychiatry. Jul1981;138(7):970-2. Are these causes for concern unfounded? Thanks, Mr. D

Dear Mr. D, Thanks for this provocative question. I knew Dr. Cherkin, and mentioned a discussion that I had with him in my book, Smart Drugs and Nutrients. He was a good guy. Unfortunately, as you pointed out, his study with DMAE and Japanese Quail produced surprisingly negative results. I know that he had expected otherwise, as he had cited other studies that indicated that DMAE and its close relative, centrophenoxine, had anti-aging properties (Hochschild, R., Effect of membrane stabilizing drugs on mortality in D. mealanogaster, Experimental Gerontology, 1971, 6, 133-151; Hochschild, R. Effect of DMAE p-chlorophenoxyacetate on the life-span of male Swiss Webster Albino mice. Experimental Gerontology, 1973, 8, 177-183; Hochschild, R. Effect of dimethyaminoethanol on the life-span of senile male A/J mice, Experimental Gerontology, 1973, 8, 185-191; Nandy, K. Lipofuscin pigment formation and aging brain. Models in Geriatric Neuropsychopharmacology, Colloquium Internationale Neuropsychopharmacologia Xth Congress, Quebec, Canada, July 4-9, 1976). Despite this disappointing outcome with the Japanese Quail, I think the preponderance of animal and human clinical studies weighs more heavily on the anti-aging benefits of DMAE. It’s too bad that no one has repeated these interesting studies. With regard to your statement that there is "research indicating that DMAE significantly inhibits betaine production in the kidney," the research is not very convincing. I am familiar with the article you are referring to (not the article for which you provided the link) that allegedly arrived at this conclusion. However, I would have to go digging for it to find it in my files. I telephoned the principal scientist in that study, and asked him specifically whether DMAE really inhibits betaine production in the kidney. Surprisingly, despite the seemingly clear title of the article to that effect, he told me, "No, I don’t really think so." He then went on to tell me that it was, of course, an in vitro study, and related all of the problems that he and his associates had encountered, and that he didn’t really think there was much that could be clinically inferred from their study. So much for science. Of course, even if DMAE really did inhibit betaine production in the kidney to the degree that homocysteine levels were raised, supplemental betaine is cheap, safe, and very effective in reducing elevated homocysteine. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen the third study you referenced. I’d be interested in the dosage used in the study. I wouldn’t be surprised that a higher dose of DMAE might not result in increased blood pressure. Have you seen the article? Do you know what dosage was used? Finally, I’m interested in the "film" that forms with your urine. I’m going to see if that happens with me. Thanks for bringing this phenomenon to my attention. And thanks again for your interesting thoughts about DMAE. Ward Dean, M.D.