Dimethylglycine supplementation does not affect plasma homocysteine concentrations in pre-dialysis chronic renal failure patients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether daily dimethylglycine supplementation affects plasma homocysteine concentrations.


METHODS
A randomized, blinded, crossover design was used. Seven pre-dialysis chronic renal failure patients consumed 400 mg of dimethylglycine or placebo daily for 28 days. Fasting blood samples and 12-h urine samples were collected at baseline and at the end of each treatment period for analysis.


RESULTS
No significant differences were observed in plasma homocysteine (P = 0.624), glycine betaine (P = 0.452) and methionine (P = 0.457) concentrations between dimethylglycine and placebo treatments.


CONCLUSIONS
Daily supplementation with dimethylglycine does not affect plasma homocysteine.
Slow
Sandy
S
Biochemistry Unit, Canterbury Health Laboratories, PO Box 151 Christchurch, New Zealand. sandy.slow@cdhb.govt.nz
McGregor
David O
DO
Lever
Michael
M
Lee
Martin B
MB
George
Peter M
PM
Chambers
Stephen T
ST
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001622:Betaine / Q000097:blood; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood*; D008715:Methionine / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012521:Sarcosine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
D006710:Homocysteine; D001622:Betaine; C025138:dimethylglycine; D008715:Methionine; D012521:Sarcosine