Posted by Larry Hoover on December 2, 2003, at 8:27:18
In reply to TMG, posted by Simian on December 2, 2003, at 6:35:26
> I just found this on some site:
> "Trimethylglycine (TMG) is often promoted as more effective than Betaine. However, TMG can generate free radicals."I'm baffled by what they're trying to get across. Betaine and trimethylglcyine are two names for the same molecule. If they're saying that the most common betaine salt, the hydrochloride, is not the same as anhydrous (freebase) trimethylglycine, that's true. Just for the record, it is the latter I speak of whenever I recommend TMG, not betaine hydrochloride.
> Is that true?
The free radical bit has not basis in anything I know of.
You generate free radicals every billion-billionth of a second. That's why you need selenium and zinc and alphalipoic acid and vitimans E and C, and so on....to quench free radicals that escape the mitochondria.
> I thought it was an antioxidant.
It's a methyl donor.
> I've also read that it can cause muscle tension.I have no idea. Tension is a complex phenomenon, often helped by antioxidants and magnesium and calcium.
> Is that true?
> I certainly don't need any more of that.Your individual reaction can only be determined by experiment.
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:285426
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20031122/msgs/285843.html