TMG Dosage Guide: Study Doses and Capsule Calculations
Compare TMG doses in human studies, convert milligrams to grams, calculate capsule counts and distinguish labels from research protocols.
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TMG dosage depends on the purpose, the studied population and the product. There is no universal amount proven to extend life, improve every workout or compensate for every dose of NMN. Start by separating three numbers: the amount in one capsule, the manufacturer’s daily serving and the amount used in a particular human study.
Those numbers are often mixed together online. A bottle saying “500 mg” may provide 500 mg per capsule, while its daily serving contains two capsules. A study using 2.5 grams is describing 2,500 mg, rather than a different way to write 500 mg.
TMG dosage at a glance
| Context | Amount examined or listed | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| DoNotAge Pure TMG product page | 500 mg per capsule; 1,000 mg daily serving | Two-capsule label arithmetic |
| Six-week homocysteine trial | 1.5, 3 or 6 g/day | Dose-response research in healthy adults |
| Several resistance-training studies | 2.5 g/day | A research protocol, with mixed performance outcomes |
| Recent cycling trial | 3 g/day for two weeks | A small crossover study, not a general-use dose standard |
| Inherited metabolic disorders | Specialist-prescribed, sometimes weight-based amounts | A separate medical treatment setting |
The study rows above describe what investigators tested. They do not establish a recommended intake for a healthy reader. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
500 mg, 1,000 mg and 2.5 g: get the units right
| TMG amount | Equivalent milligrams | Number of 500 mg capsules |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5 g | 500 mg | 1 |
| 1 g | 1,000 mg | 2 |
| 1.5 g | 1,500 mg | 3 |
| 2.5 g | 2,500 mg | 5 |
| 3 g | 3,000 mg | 6 |
This table is a calculator, not a dose ladder. It shows why reproducing a gram-level trial can require more capsules than the manufacturer’s ordinary serving. A larger number of capsules also increases cost and may change tolerability. Check suitability before changing an amount.
For powders, use the stated mass and a suitable scale. A kitchen teaspoon is a volume measure; the weight it holds depends on the product and how it is filled. Do not assume a scoop from another supplement measures the same TMG amount.

A complete conversion table for 500 mg capsules
One gram equals 1,000 milligrams. For a product declaring 500 mg of active TMG per capsule, divide the desired comparison amount in milligrams by 500. The table is arithmetic for comparing labels and published protocols; it is not an instruction to increase a manufacturer’s serving.
| Amount being compared | Milligrams | Number of 500 mg capsules |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5 g | 500 mg | 1 |
| 1 g | 1,000 mg | 2 |
| 1.5 g | 1,500 mg | 3 |
| 2.5 g | 2,500 mg | 5 |
| 3 g | 3,000 mg | 6 |
| 6 g | 6,000 mg | 12 |
Be careful with the phrase “per serving.” If a label says 1,000 mg per two-capsule serving, each capsule contains 500 mg. If it says 1,000 mg per capsule, two supply 2,000 mg. A large number on the front of a bottle may describe the serving rather than one unit.
Count TMG across the whole stack
Suppose a pre-workout contains 1,250 mg of betaine anhydrous per serving and a separate capsule product supplies 1,000 mg in the amount taken. On a day when both are used, the combined supplemental exposure is 2,250 mg, or 2.25 g. The front labels may make this easy to miss. A “methylation complex” can add further TMG alongside vitamins or choline.
Do not include betaine HCl in that calculation as if it were the same gram-for-gram sports ingredient. Check the exact form, the serving size and the number of servings actually used. The form comparison explains why the distinction matters.
What amounts lowered homocysteine?
The most useful dose-response experiment assigned 76 healthy adults to placebo or 1.5, 3 or 6 grams daily for six weeks. Fasting homocysteine was approximately 12%, 15% and 20% lower than placebo at the three respective amounts. Post-methionine-load responses were also assessed. [1]
A different study in 36 adults with mildly raised homocysteine used 6 grams daily, folic acid or placebo for six weeks. Betaine lowered fasting homocysteine and reduced the response to a methionine challenge. [6] Neither experiment demonstrates that everyone with a high result should start at the highest research amount.
Low-dose evidence needs its own context. A small crossover study compared a betaine-rich diet with 0.5 grams twice daily for two weeks. Another acute study compared an approximately 500 mg supplement with food-based betaine exposures. These are useful metabolism experiments, but cannot establish a universal long-term dose from a single capsule. [7] [8]
Combination products add another complication. A trial using 1 gram of betaine alongside folic acid, B6 and B12 cannot attribute its entire homocysteine result to betaine alone. [9] For the clinical interpretation, read TMG and homocysteine.
What amounts have exercise studies used?
Several training trials used 2.5 grams daily over six to eight weeks. Some reported selected body-composition or training-volume benefits, while strength and other outcomes did not consistently differ from placebo. A newer CrossFit crossover study examined 2.5 and 5 grams daily without demonstrating a clear advantage of one betaine amount over the other. [2] [3] [10]
Higher study exposure is therefore not a shortcut to a better result. Nor does taking a daily research amount immediately before exercise make it an acute stimulant. The sports guide compares the full protocols and outcomes.
How much TMG should accompany NMN?
A 1:1 ratio is often promoted, but a validated universal NMN-to-TMG ratio has not been established in published human intervention evidence. Matching two numbers on a label is easy; showing that the match prevents a deficiency or improves outcomes requires a direct trial.
If someone has an independent reason to consider homocysteine or nutritional assessment, that deserves attention in its own right. It should not be replaced by copying another person’s stack. Our NMN pairing guide explains the biochemical rationale and its limits.
Does timing or splitting change the dose?
One gram taken at one time and two 500 mg amounts add up to the same daily mass. The schedules may feel different for digestion, but there is no established best split for every TMG goal. Follow the current label and a clinician’s directions where applicable.
Pharmacokinetic research shows rapid absorption and changes with repeated dosing, but a plasma concentration peak does not establish the ideal clock time for a health outcome. [11] See when to take TMG for a practical routine.
How long does a bottle last?
| Bottle | At one 500 mg capsule/day | At two capsules/day, 1 g total |
|---|---|---|
| 60 capsules | 60 days | 30 days |
| 366 capsules | 366 days | 183 days |
A 366-capsule bottle is roughly a year’s supply only at one capsule daily. DoNotAge’s 1-gram-per-day annual subscription instead describes two 366-capsule containers. Compare the exact purchase option, not simply the largest number on the bottle.

Study duration, loading and maintenance: separate questions
An amount used once, for one week or for six months describes a different exposure. The six-week homocysteine dose-response trial used 1.5, 3 or 6 g daily. A separate 34-person study tested escalating amounts during consecutive one-week periods; it did not find a significant fasting-homocysteine reduction at 1 g during that first period. [1] [12]
That does not establish that every amount below 1.5 g is biologically inactive. Small acute food/supplement studies examined approximately 500 mg and post-methionine-load responses. Their design and outcomes differ from a sustained fall in fasting homocysteine or a clinical health benefit. [8]
| Dosing term | What the literature can tell you | What remains unestablished for general wellness |
|---|---|---|
| Loading | Some trials begin a fixed daily regimen without a separate high-dose phase | A universal loading regimen that improves results |
| Maintenance | Labels and trials use specified amounts for specified purposes | One maintenance dose that preserves a benefit in every healthy adult |
| Cycling | Trial durations differ | A standard on/off cycle needed for efficacy or safety |
| Body-weight dosing | Some disease or research protocols use mg/kg | A validated weight-based longevity formula for ordinary supplement use |
Do not turn a common research amount into a mandatory target or a dose-escalation ladder. If the intended result is a laboratory change, decide with the clinician interpreting it what to measure and when; a symptom alone cannot show that a particular amount was too low.
Why 1 g, 2.5 g and 6 g answer different questions
One gram is the stated daily amount from two 500 mg DoNotAge capsules. Around 2.5 g appears in several exercise protocols. Higher gram-level regimens appear in homocysteine and clinical research. These figures have different origins; they should not be combined into a single escalating wellness schedule.
The 76-person trial compared 1.5, 3 and 6 g daily for six weeks and measured homocysteine. It did not determine the best amount for training, sleep or longevity. Lipid findings in other controlled studies also show why a larger biochemical response is not automatically a better overall decision. [1] [13]
For a dose discussion, identify the intended outcome, exact form, total exposure from every product and planned duration. A body-weight formula from prescription treatment of an inherited disorder has a separate clinical purpose and monitoring requirement. It should not be repurposed as a general supplement calculator.
When increasing the amount needs a second look
Some gram-level studies report increases in cholesterol, and digestive effects can become relevant at larger exposures. The presence of a dose in a trial does not make it a safe self-treatment for liver disease or a substitute for prescription betaine. [13]
There is also a distinction between a regulatory safety assessment for a defined food use and an individualized medical prescription. EFSA’s assessed additional-intake level for specific novel-food uses should not be described as either a universal treatment dose or proof that all supplement amounts are risk-free. [14]
If you are comparing a specific capsule product, our DoNotAge Pure TMG review brings together the serving, pack duration and price. Use the safety guide alongside any dose calculation.
Sources and next steps
Browse the complete 415-publication TMG Data Center for the original studies, methods, disclosures and limitations. The numbered references below identify the sources used for this article; the full library also retains supporting and null evidence.
Continue by question: TMG Supplement: Benefits, Dosage, Safety and Research · TMG Side Effects: Cholesterol, Digestion and Safety · Best Time to Take TMG: Morning, Night or With Food? · TMG and NMN: Do You Need Both, and What Ratio?.
Our recommended TMG product

DoNotAge Pure TMG — 5/5 editorial rating
Our first choice for a straightforward single-active capsule: 500 mg TMG per capsule, a vegan capsule and 60 or 366 capsules. The score assesses the formula, label clarity and practical product choice; clinical evidence is judged separately.
Read the full evidence-led review · View at DoNotAge. Use BB10 for 10% off eligible standalone products; confirm current checkout terms.
Affiliate disclosure: Biohack Blueprint may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. This is a desk-based editorial recommendation, not an independent batch assay or a promise of a health outcome.
Frequently asked questions
Is 500 mg of TMG enough?
Is 1,000 mg the same as 1 gram?
How many 500 mg capsules equal 2.5 grams?
Should TMG be split into two doses?
How long should you take TMG before checking homocysteine?
Sources & article history
Sources (14)
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Low dose betaine supplementation leads to immediate and long term lowering of plasma homocysteine in healthy men and women The Journal of nutrition. 2003;133(12):4135-4138.
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Effects of betaine on body composition, performance, and homocysteine thiolactone Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2013;10(1):39.
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The effects of chronic betaine supplementation on body composition and performance in collegiate females: a double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2018;15(1):37.
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Betaine Supplementation Improves 60 km Cycling Time Trial Performance and One-Carbon Metabolism in Cyclists During Recovery Nutrients. 2025;17(17):2765.
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Efficacy and pharmacokinetics of betaine in CBS and cblC deficiencies: a cross-over randomized controlled trial Orphanet journal of rare diseases. 2022;17(1):417.
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Betaine supplementation lowers plasma homocysteine in healthy men and women The Journal of nutrition. 2003;133(5):1291-1295.
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Dietary and supplementary betaine: effects on betaine and homocysteine concentrations in males Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases : NMCD. 2009;19(11):767-773.
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Dietary and supplementary betaine: acute effects on plasma betaine and homocysteine concentrations under standard and postmethionine load conditions in healthy male subjects The American journal of clinical nutrition. 2008;87(3):577-585.
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Effects of low-dose B vitamins plus betaine supplementation on lowering homocysteine concentrations among Chinese adults with hyperhomocysteinemia: a randomized, double-blind, controlled preliminary clinical trial European journal of nutrition. 2023;62(4):1599-1610.
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Betaine supplementation improves CrossFit performance and increases testosterone levels, but has no influence on Wingate power: randomized crossover trial Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2023;20(1):2231411.
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Pharmacokinetics of oral betaine in healthy subjects and patients with homocystinuria British journal of clinical pharmacology. 2003;55(1):6-13.
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The effect of low doses of betaine on plasma homocysteine in healthy volunteers The British journal of nutrition. 2004;92(4):665-669.
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Effect of homocysteine-lowering nutrients on blood lipids: results from four randomised, placebo-controlled studies in healthy humans PLoS medicine. 2005;2(5):e135.
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Safety of betaine as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority. 2019;17(4):e05658.




