DMAE (Dimethylethanolamine)

Dimethylethanolamine, abreviated as DMAE, is an increasingly popular diet pill ingredient in the industry despite the low amount of clincal studies that support its claims to aid in weight loss.

Research

The little research that I could find on DMAE had nonconclusive results. Few of the studies even mentioned anything about it helping in weight loss. Here are two that I found:

One study ((Harding, Anne. “”Instant Face Lift” Chemical DMAE Damages Skin Cells.” Reuters. 18 Apr. 2007. 15 Jan. 2008 )) showed that when applying DMAE to rabbit and human skin cells, the DMAE caused “a massive and rapid swelling of the cells as they filled with DMAE and water, leading to a thickening of the epidermal layer…[and that] DMAE was toxic to the skin cells.” You’ll often see DMAE in cosmetic products, hence the subject of this research.

The only study ((Eur J Med Res. 2003 May 30;8(5):183-91)) I found that seemed to relate to weight loss was one that showed an “increase in vigilance and alertness, with a positive influence on mood.” Hardly difinitive in regards to weight loss, I don’t put much stock in the claims.

Conclusion

The jury is still out as to the effectiveness of DMAE in weight loss. As it stands, DMAE may positively effect your mood (which may be a little beneficial when needing motiviation to exercise), but is unlikely to help you lose weight through any other means.