W. Freed
Nov 1, 1984
Citations
1
Influential Citations
15
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
Archives of neurology
Abstract
To the Editor. —Roach and Carlin1recently described a mentally retarded patient with severe seizures that were reduced byN,N-dimethylglycine. Lest potential therapeutic properties ofN,N-dimethylglycine be too rapidly dismissed because of possible in vitro toxicity or because the compound has been promoted as a "health food",2I would like to point out some corroborative data. In fact, further consideration of clinical trials ofN,N-dimethylglycine, and the related compoundN,N,N,-trimethylglycine (betaine), for epilepsy has a sound scientific basis. N,N-Dimethylglycine is formed from betaine in the metabolism of homocysteine to methionine.3Betaine is the methyl donor only for the form of this reaction that occurs outside of the CNS.4,5N,N-Dimethylglycine is thus formed from betaine by the removal of one methyl group. The involvement of betaine andN,N-dimethylglycine in homocysteine methylation is their only recognized biologic role.3,6 Homocysteine can