In this day and age, it’s really easy to occasionally feel a bit down, lose focus on daily tasks, face a downturn when it comes to energy levels, or have trouble sleeping or recovering after workouts. We are only human, and the truth of the matter is that we simply weren’t designed to sustain the lifestyle most of us currently have. You didn’t evolve to sit in front of a computer all day, to trick your brain into understanding Excel, or to ruin your posture with bad office chairs and cheap desks.

No, you are evolution’s greatest success, an Apex predator that used to roam the African savannas for miles on end, in search of prey. And now the only thing we chase is the next pay check. It is what it is, but unfortunately, our bodies are suffering because of it. Are you dealing with poor stress tolerance, your sleep schedule doesn’t recharge your batteries like it once used to, and are you experiencing frequent brain fog and fatigue? Well, this can be attributed to many things. But among these things, you might not get enough methylation or folate support, and thus you might benefit from a round of trimethylgycine.

Trimethylgycine, also known as betaine, is a naturally occurring compound found in foods like whole grains and spinach, that has long been associated with liver protection, methylation support and exercise performance/recovery boost. It acts as a methyl donor, which means it’s often paired with Vitamin B6 and B12, and it can recycle homocysteine into useful compounds.

Why Supplements with Trimethylgycine Are a Good Idea?

The main role of TMG is to transfer methyl groups through the tissues of your body. This process is called methylation and it’s involved in all the internal systems that make you, well, you. TMG protects liver function, supports neurotransmitter production, contributes to the synthesis of creatine, and has a significant role in DNA repair.

TMG doesn’t work in a vacuum. It’s often paired with folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6, and that’s because TMG, when combined with homocysteine, helps convert the latter into methionine. Homocysteine is not exactly the type of chemical compound you want to stick around. Your body naturally produces it when it processes proteins and amino acids, but a buildup of it can lead to increased oxidative stress, and is associated with mental drain and poor workout recovery.

TMG, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin B6 work together to keep homocysteine in a normal range, and they utilise similar pathways to produce results. So, they are often paired together. By lowering homocysteine, quality trimethylgycine supplements can help with exercise performance, and they can also support cardiovascular health. So, it’s generally considered to be great for you, and in moderate doses, it can reliably help with fatigue and restore normal energy levels in healthy individuals.

Realistically, Who Can Make Use of Trimethylgycine the Most?

Well, since TMG works to lower homocysteine levels in the bloodstream, the biggest beneficiary of TMG supplements would be those people dealing with fatigue, cognitive issues, poor sleep schedules and inflammation, as they are the most likely to have high levels of homocysteine. Elevated homocysteine is directly correlated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

So, ideally, you should look to lower these values as soon as possible. Likewise, some people can have reduced efficiency in methylation pathways due to genetic variations in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene, which can lower the enzyme’s efficiency and they will therefore benefit directly from TMG supplementation.

A More Straightforward Benefit

Let’s be real, genetic variations are rare, and most likely, you are here because you are looking at legal ways to boost your sporting performance. Well, surprisingly for some, TMG is actually commonplace in the nutritional regimes of professional athletes. In fact, Trimethylgycine, by all metrics, is pretty much exploding in popularity right now.

Some studies suggest that TMG, in the right dosage, has an osmolyte effect that helps with water and electrolyte retention, while others found a direct link between the consumption of TMG and increased power output during high-intensity sports. The effect is not as pronounced as in the case of creatine. But it’s there.

Does TMG Actually Work?

Yes, there is strong evidence out there that supports the role of TMG in lowering homocysteine and supporting methylation. It’s not marketing, it’s science. Moreover, betaine increases creatine synthesis, which in turn is thought to assist with power output and delay fatigue. There is evidence to support the role of TMG in sports recovery, but there were fewer studies conducted than for homocysteine. Some people notice some big effects with TMG, while for others, the effect is a bit more subtle.

Are you under heavy stress, are you dealing with post-workout pain, do you suffer from nutritional deficiency and your levels of homocysteine are elevated? Then, it’s very likely that you will see the full benefits of betaine. However, if your diet is already good enough, your choline intake is normal, and your methylation levels are fine, the effect will be more subtle. TMG is not like caffeine or creatine after all.

It’s All about the Expectations

The effects will not be immediate and substantial. However, they should at least be noticeable. After taking Trimethylgycine you should notice slightly better endurance and recovery, your energy levels could be more consistent, your brain fog should be at least partially lifted, and your mood should improve. One of my old buddies tried it for a couple of months around five years ago, and he pretty much reported the same effects.

It was subtle, but it made him think more clearly, calmed him during periods of intense stress and, at least according to him, it helped him go over work burnout faster than it would’ve been possible with rest alone. Now, everyone is different. But TMG is affordable, safe and widely available. So, realistically, why wouldn’t you at least try it? Who knows, maybe in your case it will actually make a substantial difference.