Immunomodulating Properties of Dimethylglycine in Humans

Dimethylglycine (DMG), a tertiary amino acid, has had wide acceptance as a nonfuel nutrient; presumably it enhances oxygen utilization by tissue and complexes free radicals. Its potential as an immunoadjuvant has also been suggested by a study of an analog of DMG, calcium pangamate. A double-blind s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of infectious diseases 1981-01, Vol.143 (1), p.101-105
Main Authors: Graber, Charles D., Goust, Jean M., Glassman, Armand D., Kendall, Roger, Loadholt, C. Boyd
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adjuvants, Immunologic - pharmacology
Administration, Oral
Adolescent
Adult
Antibodies
Antibodies, Bacterial - analysis
Antigens
Bacterial Vaccines - immunology
Calcium
Clinical Trials as Topic
Control groups
Diabetes
Diabetes complications
Double-Blind Method
Glycine - analogs & derivatives
Host Defense and Immunology
Humans
Immunity - drug effects
Immunity, Cellular - drug effects
Immunization
Lymphocytes
Middle Aged
Pneumococcal vaccine
Sarcosine - analogs & derivatives
Sarcosine - pharmacology
Streptococcus pneumoniae - immunology
Vaccination
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Summary:Dimethylglycine (DMG), a tertiary amino acid, has had wide acceptance as a nonfuel nutrient; presumably it enhances oxygen utilization by tissue and complexes free radicals. Its potential as an immunoadjuvant has also been suggested by a study of an analog of DMG, calcium pangamate. A double-blind study in 20 human volunteers showed a fourfold increase in antibody response to pneumococcal vaccine in those receiving DMG orally as compared with controls (P < 0.01). Production of leukocyte inhibitory factor in response to concanavalin A was similar in the two groups, but those taking DMG tablets had a significantly higher mean response of leukocyte inhibition factor to streptokinase-streptodornase (P < 0.01) and to pneumococcal antigens after immunization with vaccine (P < 0.001). The in vitro responses of lymphocytes from patients with diabetes and those with sickle cell disease to phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A, and pokeweed mitogen were increased almost threefold after addition of DMG. These results suggest that DMG enhances both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses in humans.
ISSN:0022-1899
1537-6613
DOI:10.1093/infdis/143.1.101