DMAE Benefits - What It Is, How to Use it, Benefits and Side Effects
Supplements are available in several forms and for a variety of uses. While they are all beneficial in different ways, some of the best ones are those that provide you with what your body naturally produces.
DMAE, also called Deanol, 2-dimethylaminoethanol, or dimethylethanolamine, is a compound that is naturally found in the brain in small amounts. This compound contributes to increased mental stimulation and enhancement, such as better thinking skills and better memory.
It is also abundantly found in fatty fish like sardines, anchovies, and salmon, making it an added benefit of seafood consumption (which, as you may know, is known for its brain-boosting advantages). However, there is no data on the specific amount of the compound in fish.
DMAE in the brain is converted to choline and works as raw material to produce the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Acetylcholine plays an important role in helping nerve cells send signals within the brain. By accelerating the brain’s synthesis of this key neurotransmitter, it helps regulate various functions controlled by the brain, including REM sleep, muscle contractions, and pain responses.
DMAE could also aid in preventing the buildup of a substance known as beta-amyloid in the brain. Excess beta-amyloid has been linked to memory loss and age-related degression. All of these factors make it extremely advantageous in supporting healthier brain function.
DMAE was initially sold by Riker laboratories as a prescription drug called Deaner for children with learning disabilities and behavioral problems but was discontinued in 1983. It is now available as a dietary supplement or nootropic. It is also used as an ingredient in anti-aging skin care products and cosmetics.
Usage is mostly safe, but always do your research and consult your doctor before adding any supplements to your daily diet.
DMAE Benefits:
Skin Aging
DMAE is a popular ingredient in skin care products as it is supposed to have anti-aging benefits that help prevent sagging skin and wrinkles. In a clinical trial conducted by the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, a group of about 150 people applied a facial gel containing 3% DMAE for a period of 4 months.
Results showed that the participants found improvements in the forehead and eye area wrinkles, dark circles, lip shape and fullness, and overall skin quality. Another study suggests that DMAE benefits include skin hydration and increased collagen production in humans and mice.
In addition to this, Mesotherapy (skin injections with tiny needles) using DMAE along with amino acids also boosted the levels of collagen and had anti-aging effects in rats.
Enhanced Memory and Cognition:
As mentioned before, DMAE can possibly improve memory and mental functions. In a study of 60 patients with mild mental disorders, DMAE enhanced their cognition, energy, and strength. Additionally, another study administered a formula called DMAE pyroglutamate in doses of 1,500 mg per day for six days.
It was found to reverse short-term cognitive impairment in 24 healthy men. However, it is possible that pyroglutamate boosted acetylcholine levels in the brain and significantly contributed to the results. Due to its effects on memory, it could help with Alzheimer’s, but a study conducted on this did not show sufficient results.
Attention Disorders In Children
Studies conducted on children during the 60s and 70s showed that DMAE benefits included reduced hyperactivity in those with ADHD and other attention disorders.
Administration of Deanol (DMAE 500mg) to about 75 children with learning disorders and behavioral issues for a period of 3 months resulted in improved school performance.
But it must be taken into account that the study had a small sample and poor symptom measurement. No recent studies have been conducted, so this data is not entirely dependable.
Mental Health
There is some belief that DMAE may support mental health. A small 1977 study found that it reduced depression and anxiety in those suffering from age-related cognitive decline.
In another trial, a supplement of DMAE, vitamins, and minerals improved the mood, energy, and well being of 80 healthy people. Another study on rats revealed that it could increase the brain levels of dopamine and serotonin, which are two components that contribute to good mental health. However, it has also been known to worsen mental health in some people, so caution is warranted.
Athletic Performance
Some early studies conducted suggest that taking Deanol along with ginseng, vitamins, and minerals for a duration of 6 weeks may possibly improve athletic performance and energy levels in some individuals.
DMAE Side Effects
DMAE seems to be safe for most people when taken by mouth or applied to the skin for a short duration. However, inaccurate or high doses may cause side effects such as insomnia, headache, constipation, diarrhea, drowsiness, difficulty moving limbs, muscle twitching, sneezing, coughing, wheezing, eye irritation, confusion, high blood pressure, and increased schizophrenia in some people.
It should be avoided in those who have epilepsy, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia.
Pregnant women or nursing mothers also need to avoid DMAE usage as an animal study linked the supplement with spina bifida, a neural tube defect occurring in babies that may happen during the first few days of pregnancy. It also impaired choline metabolism in mouse embryos, leading to congenital disabilities and retarded growth.
How To Use DMAE
DMAE used to be available as a prescription drug but is no longer marketed in this way. It is now available in the form of supplements. Its stimulant effect is quite different from that produced by coffee, amphetamines, or other such products – it does not have a quick up and down but a mild continuous stimulation.
Capsulated DMAE bitartrate is the most popular form of supplements, followed by bulk powders. Based on studies, 300 mg to 2000 mg per day seems to be a safe dosage, but it all depends on variables such as the user’s age, gender, health, and medical history.
While DMAE benefits appear to be great, an incorrect dosage may result in unforeseen risks and dangerous side effects, so be sure to consult your doctor before starting the usage of this supplement.
