Vitamin B16; Deficiency Symptoms, Food Source, Health Benefit

Last updated: February 7, 2026Reviewed date: February 7, 2026Reading time: 4 min read

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Article Summary

Vitamin B16 is a water-soluble vitamin derivative of the amino acid glycine; it has a similar chemical structure to another water-soluble vitamin. It is an essential vitamin for the human body that is obtained from a different source that includes beans, liver, whole grains, and coating of rice. The structural formula of vitamin B-16 is (CH3)2NCH2COOH. In the body, vitamin b16 is absorbed in the...

Key Takeaways

This article explains Deficiency Symptoms of Vitamin B16 in simple medical language.
This article explains Food Sources of Vitamin B16 in simple medical language.
This article explains Health Benefit of Vitamin B16 in simple medical language.

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Start here Choose the right pathway for symptoms, reports, medicines, or urgent warning signs. Disease article roadmap Read this topic step by step: meaning, symptoms, warning signs, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and follow-up. Treatment planner Prepare questions about treatment choices, benefits, risks, side effects, and follow-up. Family & caregiver guide Organize symptoms, reports, medicines, questions, and follow-up safely. Nutrition & diet guide Prepare food, hydration, supplement, and medicine-timing questions safely. Prevention guide Organize risk factors, protective habits, screening, and warning signs. Recovery guide Prepare a safe plan for activity, rehabilitation, warning signs, and follow-up.

Educational health guideWritten for patient understanding and clinical awareness.

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Emergency safety firstUrgent warning signs are highlighted below.

Definition

Vitamin B16 is a water-soluble vitamin derivative of the amino acid glycine; it has a similar chemical structure to another water-soluble vitamin. It is an essential vitamin for the human body that is obtained from a different source that includes beans, liver, whole grains, and coating of rice. The structural formula of vitamin B-16 is (CH3)2NCH2COOH. In the body, vitamin b16 is absorbed in the small intestine and then the body liver converts it into other useful metabolites. Vitamin B-16 also functions as a building block to DNA, amino acids, neurotransmitters, and hormones.

It is a derivative of the amino acid glycine with it can be found in beans and liver. It can be formed from trimethylglycine upon the loss of one of its methyl groups. It is also a byproduct of the metabolism of choline.

When DMG was first discovered, it was referred to as Vitamin B₁₆, but, unlike true B vitamins, deficiency of DMG in the diet does not lead to any ill-effects and it is synthesized by the human body in the citric acid (or Krebs) cycle meaning it does not meet the definition of a vitamin.

Deficiency Symptoms of Vitamin B16

The basic vitamin b16 deficiency symptoms are

High blood pressure
Lowering cholesterol levels
Rheumatism
Angina
Heart troubles
Asthma
Hypertension
Emphysema
Alcoholism
Cancer
Cirrhosis of the liver
Hepatitis
High cholesterol
Arteriosclerosis
Headaches
Emotional and mental stress
Deterioration of red blood cells
Pernicious anemia
Accelerated production of cancer cells
This is an important vitamin for the body and its deficiency may lead to the destruction of red blood cells, anemia, usually pernicious anemia as well as increasing growth of cancerous cells in the body.

The food which contained more amount of vitamin b16 is described bellow

Physiologically, vitamin B-16 is a byproduct of choline.
You can find vitamin B-16 naturally in both animal and plant cells and in certain foods including
liver
beans
cereal grains.
It can also find vitamin B-16 in the outer coating of rice,
brewer’s yeast,
grain and many types of seeds.
This vitamin is also sold in supplement form.
However, you should speak with a medical professional prior to taking any health supplement including vitamin B16.

Health Benefit of Vitamin B16

The health benefit of vitamin b16 is following

Dimethylglycine has been suggested for use as an athletic performance enhancer,
Vitamin b16 works as an immunostimulant,
Treatment for autism spectrum disorders
In the treatment of epilepsy, or mitochondrial disease.
There is no evidence that dimethylglycine is effective for treating mitochondrial disease. Published studies on the subject have shown little to no difference between DMG treatment and placebo in autism spectrum disorders. Vitamin B-16 is a methyl donor.
Methyl donors facilitate your body in the production of brain chemicals and thus
Improve sexual enjoyment,
Works as a mood booster
Produce extra energy and well-being,
Alertness increaser
Help in concentration and visual clarity
Vitamin B-16 is an effective energy booster
Stamina-enhancing
Cardiovascular-building nutrient.
Vitamin B-16 can provide protection against infectious agents in your body and can optimize performance for athletes and active individuals.
Manufacturers of vitamin B-16 supplements claim that as a supplement, vitamin B16 can enhance your immune system, stimulant neurological functions, and help to manage autism and epilepsy.
According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, vitamin B-16 enhances immune responses in humans and animals by improving oxygen utilization during hypoxia, a medical condition in which your body does not receive sufficient oxygen.
Vitamin B-16 can also reduce lactic acid build-up in your blood during stressful events helping to prevent seizures. However, the use of vitamin B-16 as a medical supplement remains controversial, as currently available studies do not confirm the medical benefits of vitamin B-16.

References

Medicines to learn about

Choline; Deficiency Symptoms, Food Source, Health Benefit91% relationship confidence Niacin; Deficiency Symptoms, Food Source, Health Benefit91% relationship confidence Pantothenic Acid ; Symptoms, Food Source, Health Benefit91% relationship confidence Vitamin B1 - Types, Deficiency Symptoms, Health Benefits91% relationship confidence Vitamin B2 - Deficiency Symptoms, Food Source, Health Benefit91% relationship confidence Vitamin B6 - Deficiency Symptoms, Food Source, Health Benefit91% relationship confidence

Which doctor may help?

Start with a registered doctor or the nearest qualified health center.

What to tell the doctor

Write when the problem started and how it changed.
Bring old prescriptions, investigation reports, and current medicines.
Write allergies, pregnancy status, diabetes, kidney/liver disease, and major past illnesses.
Bring one family member if the patient is weak, elderly, confused, or a child.

Questions to ask

What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
Which danger signs mean I should go to hospital quickly?
Which tests are necessary now, and which can wait?
How should I take medicines safely and what side effects should I watch for?
When should I come for follow-up?

Tests to discuss

Vital signs: temperature, pulse, blood pressure, oxygen saturation
Basic physical examination by a clinician
CBC, urine test, blood sugar, or imaging only when clinically needed

Avoid these mistakes

Do not use antibiotics, steroid tablets/injections, or strong painkillers without proper medical advice.
Do not hide pregnancy, kidney disease, ulcer, allergy, or blood thinner use.
Do not delay emergency care when danger signs are present.

Medicine safety and first-aid guide

This section is for patient education only. It does not replace a doctor, pharmacist, or emergency care.

Safe first steps

Avoid heavy lifting, sudden bending, and prolonged bed rest.
Use comfortable posture and gentle movement as tolerated.
Discuss physiotherapy, X-ray, or MRI only when clinically needed.

OTC medicine safety

For mild back pain, pain-relief medicine may be discussed with a doctor or pharmacist.
Avoid repeated painkiller use if you have kidney disease, stomach ulcer, uncontrolled blood pressure, or are taking blood thinners.

Avoid these mistakes

Do not start antibiotics without a proper medical decision.
Do not use steroid tablets or injections casually for quick relief.
Do not delay emergency care because of home remedies.

Get urgent help if

Back pain with leg weakness, numbness around private area, loss of urine/stool control, fever, cancer history, or major injury needs urgent care.

Medicine names, dose, and timing must be decided by a qualified clinician or pharmacist after checking age, pregnancy, allergy, other diseases, and current medicines.

For rural patients and family caregivers

Patient health record and symptom diary

Write your symptoms, medicines already taken, test results, and questions before visiting a doctor. This note stays on your device unless you print or copy it.

Doctor to discuss: Doctor / qualified healthcare provider

Tests to discuss with doctor

Basic vital signs: temperature, pulse, blood pressure, oxygen level if needed
Relevant blood, urine, imaging, or specialist tests only after clinical assessment

Questions to ask

What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
Which warning signs mean I should go to emergency care?
Which tests are really needed now?
Which medicines are safe for my age, pregnancy status, allergy, kidney/liver/stomach condition, and current medicines?

Emergency warning signs such as chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, sudden weakness, confusion, severe dehydration, major injury, or loss of bladder/bowel control need urgent medical care. Do not wait for online information.

Go to emergency care if you notice:

Severe or rapidly worsening symptoms
Breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting, confusion, severe weakness, major injury, or severe dehydration

Doctor / service to discuss: Qualified healthcare provider; specialist depends on symptoms and examination.

Step 1
Check danger signs first

If danger signs are present, seek emergency care and do not wait for online information.
Step 2
Record the symptom story

Write when symptoms started, severity, medicines already taken, allergies, pregnancy status, and test results.
Step 3
Visit a qualified clinician

A doctor, nurse, or qualified healthcare provider can examine you and decide which tests or treatment are needed.
Step 4
Do only useful tests

Do tests after clinical assessment. Avoid unnecessary tests, random antibiotics, or repeated medicines without diagnosis.
Step 5
Follow up and return early if worse

If symptoms worsen, new warning signs appear, or treatment is not helping, return for review quickly.

Rural patient practical tips

Take a written symptom diary and all previous prescriptions/test reports.
Do not hide medicines already taken, even herbal or over-the-counter medicines.
Ask which warning signs mean urgent referral to hospital.

This roadmap is for education. A real diagnosis and treatment plan requires history, examination, and clinical judgment.

Internal learning pathway

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