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After 25 years of research Dr. Roger Kendall has released a book on the therapeutic and preventative applications of DMG called Building Wellness with DMG. Although most of the book deals with humans the applications for equine health is easily made. In fact, some of the first studies done on DMG in the U.S. showed that the nutrient could improve the racing performance in horses. The primary areas of use include immune system potentiation, resistance to respiratory diseases, enhanced athletics, reduced shipping stress, ulcer healing, and stress reduction. In athletics DMG has been found to improve performance, stamina, cardiovascular function, oxygen utilization, muscle recovery, reduced lactic acid buildup, improved disease resistance, calmer and more settled disposition, and increased ATP (energy) production.

For over 30 years US Animal® Nutritionals has been committed to providing its customers with the highest quality nutritional formulations. Now one of their most trusted products Immuno-DMG EQ a multipatented product has been combined with another multipatented product GlutaSyn® to give you Gluta-DMG EQ. GlutaSyn® is a unique stabilized protein isolate that has been studied extensively for its anti-aging effects, immune potentiation, and antioxidant properties. GlutaSyn® is an all-natural product that enhances intracellular glutathione levels. Glutatione is one of the most important antioxidants in the body.

eThe Use of N,N-Dimethylglycine (DMG) in Equine Practice
By Roger V. Kendall, Ph.D.

Introduction to DMG and Equine Use
Veterinarians and trainers have been recommending DMG for: Geriatric horses, Allergies, Hoof, Skin, Hair, or Coat condition, Azoturia or other Muscle Diseases, Respiratory Distress- Pluritis, Exercise Asthma, Pulmonary Disease, Rhinopneumonitis, Influenza, and Heaves, Poor Performance- Athletic or Breeding, and Melanoma.

N,N-Dimethylglycine (DMG), is an extremely valuable anti-stress nutrient and ergogenic food factor that has recently received widespread attention from veterinarians and trainers in the equine practice. Research on DMG goes back more than thirty years where it was observed that DMG improved racing time of faders. Further research indicated DMG enhances a horse’s recovery from heavy training, reduces shipping stress, improves muscle metabolism, and aids resistance to infections diseases. Research has shown DMG to be effective in improving endurance by reducing lactic acid buildup and improve oxygen utilization during exercise. Other evaluation has shown DMG to be valuable in overcoming fatigue, improving respiratory efficiency and strengthening both the cardiovascular and immune systems in the horse.

The most exciting area for DMG may prove to be its ability to potentiate and improve the equine’s immune system. Research has confirmed its ability to increase both B-cell and T-cell mediated immunity when given orally to man and animals. This becomes a critical factor to a horse’s performance when it is exposed to various viral and bacterial agents. Maximizing a horse’s immune system with DMG means that the risk of infection will be greatly reduced.

What is DMG?
DMG is the dimethylated derivative of the simplest amino acid, glycine, in which two methyl groups have been replaced the hydrogens on the nitrogen atom. It is a tertiary amine and a product of cellular metabolism, produced from betaine and choline in the body.

As a natural component of mammalian biochemistry, DMG has been found to be an extremely safe nutrient and is metabolized in the same pathway as choline and glycine. DMG and its associated protein complexes are found in low levels in seeds, grains and other foods. DMG does not build up in the equine’s system because it is efficiently converted in the liver into a series of one and two carbon species, which are in turn used by the animal to produce other useful metabolites. DMG does not show in the horse’s urine because following metabolism by the liver DMG is converted into substances normally found in the body’s anabolism and energy cycles. DMG does not alter the normal blood chemistries of the animal.

DMG may act as an indirect methyl donor by providing methyl groups via SAMe. Methyl production is essential in the equine for the formation of a number of vitamins, hormones, enzymes, neurotransmitters, and antibodies. DMG may also function as a chelating agent and mineral transporter.

Equine Use
As mentioned earlier, DMG is an ergogenic substance and improves equine performance, especially in the areas of recovery from low oxygen debt and states of hypoxia. Research has shown that DMG improves oxygen utilization, reduces lactate formation and may increase ATP (energy) levels. It increases tolerance to physical activity and has a significant effect in reducing muscle cramping. Its use in equine sports practice is growing.

Lactic Acid Studies
There is a growing body of scientific evidence that demonstrates DMG’s ability to reduce lactate buildup in heavily exercised horses. Lactic acid has long been recognized as a central cause of fatigue and muscle cramping. In the equine, lactate fatigue will cause fetlock droop, inefficient and erratic leg motion and subsequent exhaustion in the animal.

There are at least three completed studied to date, demonstrate DMG’s ability to reduce lactic acid buildup and at the same time imrove a horse’s racing performance. A 1982 study published in Equine Practice by Levine and Myhre showed DMG’s rapid ability to reduce a horse’s lactic acid levels as compared to control horses. The authors reported over a five-fold decrease in lactate levels for the tested animals as compared to the controls. Another study done by Robert Cator, DVM, at Panhandle Regional Veterinary Clinic confirmed the results of the Equine Practice study. Potter and Moffitt reported on a DMG study which they did in 1985 at Texas A&M. When horses were supplemented with DMG at the rate of 1.6 mg/kg, there was a significant reduction in blood lactic acid concentration during strenuous exersice. This dosage equates to approxiamtely one serving of US Animal Nutrtionals® of Vermont Immuno-DMG 750mg.

The Mechanism of how DMG improves oxygen utilization aned reduces lactic acid accumulation are not clear, but it is effectivenessin improving performance is well accepted.

In 1982 Gannon and Kendall’s findings published in Canine Practice were that greyhounds supplemented with DMG had improved racing times as well as quicker recovery from previous days’ traning or racing.

Immune Response Studies
As an oral immune response potentiator, DMG can stimulate both B and T cell activity. DMG can increase antibody production and lymphocyte proliferation. This makes DMG a valuable nutrient, as very few substances have been shown to be able to improve both arms of the immune defense system. Reports from Clemson University have shown that DMG will increase interferon, a product of T cells, which is a potent anti-viral agent.

Research on DMG and the immune response began in 1978 at the Medical University of South Carolina. The results of this resesarch, which were published in 1981 in the Journal of infectious Disease, centered on three areas:

1. DMG invoked a humoral or antibody response in rabbits given a typhoid vaccine demonstrating B-cell activity.
2. DMG increased lymphocyte proliferation in a human in vitro experiment using a Lymphocyte Blast Transformation test on blood samples of 75 individuals, including those with diabetes and sickle cell anemia.
3. A double-blind study involving 20 human subjcts showed DMG to be effective in stimulation both a humoral (antibody) as well as a cellular mediated immune response when Pneumovax vaccine was administered as a challenge. A four-fold increase in antibody level was seen in the test group as compared to the control group. The Leukocyte Inhibition Factoer increased significantly in those individuals given DMG showing a cell mediated response.

As a result of this work US Animal Nutritionals® of Vermont was granted a patent on DMG and its role in potentiating the immune response (US Patent # 4,631,189). US Animal Nutritionals® holds a total of 6 US and European Patents on DMG.

Research completed in the latter part of 1986 at Clemson confirmed the earlier work done at thte Medical University of South Carolina that DMG does potentiate both arms of the immune response system. The researchers at Clemson also found that DMG was effective in increasing interferon production in the rabbit, in fact a 2-fold increase in interferon production was seen in those animals receiving DMG.

The use of DMG in equine practice offers a safe oral immune stimulating nutrient which can offer increased resistance to and recovery from infectious diseases. Some respiratory conditions also respond well to DMG supplementation.

Conclusion
DMG’s beneficial use in equine practice is being firmly established. Over 25 years of research by U.S. Animal Nutritionals® of Vermont and its parent company FoodScience Corporation on its Equine DMG product Immuno-DMG EQ has demonstarated DMG’s ability to improve equine performance as well as speed the recovery from stress. As an immune potentiating nutrient DMG can help maintain the horse’s health and optimize physical fitness. DMG can help your horse to run faster and longer; it can give a horse the competitive edge that can make the difference between winning or losing.