Diacerein: Top Joint Health Benefits, Uses, Dosage, and Safety Guide
Diacerein is a slow-acting oral medicine used to relieve symptoms of osteoarthritis, particularly in the hip and knee. Unlike painkillers that block prostaglandins, diacerein targets interleukin-1 (IL-1), a key inflammatory signal tied to cartilage breakdown. That different mechanism is why its benefits tend to build slowly over weeks, sometimes persisting briefly after you stop. For some people who cannot...
Diacylglycerol Oil: Weight Loss, Heart Health, Dosage, and Side Effects Explained
Diacylglycerol (DAG) oil is a specialty cooking oil formulated to contain a high proportion of diacylglycerols rather than the triacylglycerols (TAGs) found in conventional oils. That structural difference matters: DAG is handled a bit differently during digestion and post-meal lipid metabolism, which is why researchers have studied it for visceral fat, body weight, and triglycerides. In everyday terms, DAG...
Diallyl Disulfide: Comprehensive Guide to Benefits, Mechanisms, and Safe Use
Diallyl disulfide (DADS) is a sulfur-rich molecule that gives garlic much of its punch—in scent and in biology. It forms when fresh garlic is crushed and allicin breaks down, and it concentrates in steam-distilled garlic oils. In the lab, DADS influences pathways linked to oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell signaling, which helps explain why garlic has long been studied...
Diastase: Starch Digestion, Health Benefits, Dosage, and Side Effects
Diastase is the traditional name for alpha-amylase, the starch-digesting enzyme found in malted barley, fungi such as Aspergillus oryzae, and the human digestive tract. As a supplement, diastase helps break complex starches into smaller sugars so they can be absorbed more easily. People reach for it to address heavy, starchy meals, post-meal fullness, or functional dyspepsia–type symptoms. Unlike proteases...
Diatomaceous Earth: Safe Detox, Gut Health, Pest Control, and Dosage Guide
Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a naturally occurring, powdery mineral made from the fossilized shells of microscopic algae called diatoms. In homes and farms, it’s valued as a non-chemical way to manage crawling insects, protect stored grains, and aid filtration. In industry, DE helps clarify beverages and purify pharmaceuticals. “Food-grade” DE is mostly amorphous silica, while “pool-grade” has been heat-treated...
Dibencozide: Top Benefits for Athletes, Wellness, and Nervous System Support
Dibencozide—better known to scientists as adenosylcobalamin, cobamamide, or simply “coenzyme B12”—is one of the two active forms of vitamin B12 your body actually uses. While methylcobalamin works mainly in the cell cytosol, dibencozide works inside mitochondria, where it helps enzymes convert odd-chain fats and certain amino acids into energy. Because of this mitochondrial role, you’ll often see dibencozide positioned...
Dicaffeine Malate Benefits: How It Works, Proper Dosage, and Side Effects
Dicaffeine malate (often sold under brand names in pre-workout and focus formulas) combines caffeine with malic acid in a single compound. Marketers pitch it as “smoother” than caffeine anhydrous, with fewer jitters and a longer tail. In practice, dicaffeine malate still delivers caffeine—the same stimulant that improves alertness, reaction time, and exercise performance for many people. The malate portion...
Dicaffeoylquinic Acid: Plant-Based Antioxidant, Health Effects, Dosage & Safety
Dicaffeoylquinic acid (diCQA) is a family of plant polyphenols best known as naturally occurring “isochlorogenic acids” in coffee leaves and beans, artichoke, sweet potato leaves, Centella asiatica, and several herbal teas. Each diCQA molecule carries two caffeic-acid groups attached to quinic acid, a structure linked to strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions. Emerging laboratory and animal research suggests potential roles...
Dicalcium Malate: Superior Calcium Supplement Benefits, Absorption, Dosage, and Safety
Dicalcium malate is a calcium salt bound to malic acid—the same organic acid found in apples and other fruits. It’s designed to deliver elemental calcium for strong bones and teeth while being gentle on the stomach and usable across different diets. Many people consider it as an option when they struggle with large chalky tablets or want a form...
Dicalcium Phosphate: Dental Strength, Bone Support, Best Uses, and Safe Dosage
Dicalcium phosphate (DCP) is a calcium–phosphorus compound used widely in supplements, fortified foods, and tablets. It supplies two essential minerals in a compact, shelf-stable form and also functions as a reliable excipient that helps tablets hold shape and flow during manufacturing. Because calcium and phosphorus work together to mineralize bone and tooth enamel, DCP often appears in multivitamins and...
Dichloroacetate (DCA): Metabolic Benefits, Mechanisms, Dosage, and Side Effects Explained
Dichloroacetate (DCA) is a small molecule that shifts how cells make energy. By inhibiting pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK), it activates the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDH) and nudges metabolism away from glycolysis toward mitochondrial oxidation. Clinically, that has meant two main areas of interest: lowering elevated lactate in congenital or acquired lactic acidosis, and modulating tumor metabolism as an add-on...
Dichrostachys glomerata: Super-Spice Benefits, Dosage, and Practical Applications
Dichrostachys glomerata is a West and Central African spice made from the dried fruit pods of a small legume tree in the Fabaceae family. Beyond its culinary role in traditional soups, standardized extracts of the pods are now studied as dietary supplements for weight management, metabolic health, and antioxidant support. Early human trials report modest weight loss and improvements...
Didymocarpus pedicellata: Kidney Health Benefits, Uses, Dosage, and Side Effects
Didymocarpus pedicellata is a Himalayan herb better known in Ayurveda as shilapushpa (“stone flower”). It shows up in several polyherbal formulas for urinary health and kidney stones. Modern lab and animal research suggests it may help by increasing urine flow, curbing oxidative stress, and inhibiting calcium oxalate crystal growth—the most common stone type. Human data are limited and often...
DigeZyme Supplement: Complete Review of Benefits, Properties, Dosage, and Risks
DigeZyme is a branded blend of digestive enzymes designed to help your body break down the major nutrients in food—carbohydrates, proteins, fats, lactose, and plant fibers—so you can absorb them more comfortably. It typically includes α-amylase, protease, lipase, lactase, and cellulase sourced from microbial fermentation. For people who struggle with indigestion, heavy meals, or occasional post-meal bloating, a targeted...
Dihomo-gamma-linolenic Acid: Unique Omega-6 Benefits, How It Works, Dosage, and Safety
Dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA) is a lesser-known omega-6 fatty acid your body makes from gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). Despite belonging to the omega-6 family, DGLA stands out because it’s a precursor to prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and 15-HETrE—lipid messengers linked with vasodilation, platelet regulation, and a more balanced inflammatory response. Early human data suggest potential benefits for seasonal allergy symptoms, cardiometabolic risk...
Dihydrocapsiate: Weight Loss Benefits, Safe Dosage, Side Effects, and Metabolism Support
Dihydrocapsiate (DHC) is a non-pungent “capsinoid” found in a sweet chili pepper cultivar called CH-19. Unlike capsaicin, it does not burn the mouth, yet it still interacts with the same heat-sensing receptor (TRPV1) that influences thermogenesis. Early human trials suggest DHC can nudge energy expenditure upward and may support fat oxidation, while newer studies clarify where its effects are...
Dihydroquercetin Benefits: Liver, Heart, Immunity Support, Dosage, and Precautions
Dihydroquercetin—better known as taxifolin—is a natural flavonoid found in Siberian larch, onions, citrus, and some herbs. It belongs to the flavanonol family, giving it slightly different chemistry from quercetin, its more famous cousin. In cells and animal models, taxifolin shows antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and microcirculatory support properties, and small early human studies have begun exploring cognitive and fatigue effects. In...
Dihydroresveratrol: Antioxidant Benefits, Healthy Aging, Dosage, and Side Effects Explained
Dihydroresveratrol (often shortened to DHR) is a gut-microbiota–derived metabolite of resveratrol—the famous polyphenol in grapes and Japanese knotweed. Although resveratrol itself is rapidly transformed after you swallow it, DHR appears in the gut and circulation and may account for part of resveratrol’s biological activity. Early laboratory and animal research links DHR to anti-inflammatory and cell-protective effects, with intriguing signals...
Diindolylmethane Supplement: Key Uses, Health Benefits, Dosage, and Safety Review
Diindolylmethane (DIM) is a bioactive compound your body forms after you eat cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, and cauliflower. Interest in DIM has grown because of its effects on estrogen metabolism, cellular signaling, and detoxification pathways. Early human studies suggest DIM may shift estrogen metabolites toward forms associated with lower estrogenic activity, and researchers are exploring whether...
Diiodothyronine: Metabolic Benefits, Proper Dosage, Weight Loss Support, and Side Effects
Diiodothyronine (T2) is a naturally occurring metabolite of thyroid hormones. In the body, enzymes called deiodinases strip iodine atoms from thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), generating several “nonclassical” derivatives—including 3,5-T2 and 3,3′-T2. Because T2 can act quickly in mitochondria and other cellular sites, it has attracted interest for energy, lipid, and weight management. At the same time, T2 is...
Dill Extract Supplement: Science-Backed Benefits, Cholesterol Support, Dosage Guide, and Safety
Dill extract—concentrated from the leaves or seeds of Anethum graveolens—bridges kitchen and clinic. Beyond its bright, familiar flavor, standardized extracts have been studied for effects on LDL cholesterol, insulin resistance, and menstrual pain. These benefits likely stem from a mix of volatile oils (notably carvone and limonene) and polyphenols that act as antioxidants and smooth-muscle modulators. Most people encounter...
Dimethyl Fumarate: Top Benefits, How to Use, Dosage, and Side Effects
Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is an oral prescription medicine used primarily for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis and, in parts of Europe, for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Unlike many “natural” fumarates, DMF is a regulated drug with well-studied benefits and known risks. It works by shifting overactive immune responses and activating the body’s antioxidant stress-response pathway (Nrf2), which helps...
Dimethylaminoethanol: Cognitive Support, Skin Health, Dosage, and Side Effects
Dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE)—also labeled deanol or DMAE bitartrate—is a choline-like compound used in two main ways: as a nootropic supplement for attention and mood, and as a topical cosmetic ingredient to improve skin tone and firmness. Although it has a long history in over-the-counter products, the modern clinical evidence is mixed and often limited to small or short-term studies. In...
Dimethylamylamine: Benefits, Properties, Uses, Dosage, and Side Effects Explained
Dimethylamylamine (DMAA), also known as 1,3-dimethylamylamine or methylhexanamine, is a synthetic stimulant once marketed in “pre-workout” and “fat burner” supplements. It acts on the sympathetic nervous system, which is why users report sharp increases in alertness and drive. At the same time, this class of compounds can raise heart rate and blood pressure and has been linked to serious...
Dimethylglycine (DMG): Top Benefits, Dosage Guide, Uses, and Side Effects Overview
Dimethylglycine (DMG) sits quietly inside your cells as part of the body’s one-carbon (methylation) network. It is formed when betaine donates a methyl group to homocysteine, and it is then broken down inside mitochondria to sarcosine and glycine. Because of this central positioning, DMG is marketed for energy, immunity, brain function, and exercise performance. The truth is more measured:...
Dimethylhexylamine (DMHA): Top Benefits, Pre-Workout Uses, Dosage, and Safety Profile
Dimethylhexylamine (often labeled as DMHA or octodrine) is a synthetic stimulant that shows up in some pre-workout and weight-loss supplements. It is chemically related to other sympathomimetic amines and is marketed for short-term energy, focus, and appetite control. Despite the marketing, DMHA is not an approved dietary ingredient in the United States and is prohibited in sport. Evidence in...
Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO): Health Benefits, Properties, Application Methods, and Potential Risks
Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) is a powerful polar solvent best known from laboratory benches and cell-freezers, yet it also has a narrow, legitimate place in human care. In the United States, prescription DMSO is approved only as an intravesical (inside-the-bladder) medication for interstitial cystitis, where it can lessen bladder pain and urgency under a clinician’s supervision. Beyond that setting, people encounter...
Dinitrophenol (DNP): Comprehensive Guide to Dangers, Uses, Dosage, and Health Hazards
Dinitrophenol (often “DNP”) is a yellow industrial chemical that has been mis-sold online as a “fat burner.” Its biology is straightforward—and extremely dangerous. DNP uncouples energy production in mitochondria, forcing the body to burn fuel inefficiently and generate heat. That can raise metabolic rate, but at the cost of overheating, organ failure, and death. DNP is not a nutrient...
Dioscorea villosa: Menopause Support, Hormone Balance, Uses, and Side Effects
Wild yam (Dioscorea villosa) is a North American vine whose knobby root has a long history in herbalism for cramps, digestive upsets, and women’s health complaints. Today you’ll also see it in creams and serums marketed for “hormone balance” or soothing irritated skin. Much of the buzz comes from diosgenin—a plant steroid found in wild yam that chemists can...
Diosgenin: Women’s Wellness, Joint Support, Properties, and Dosage Guide
Diosgenin is a naturally occurring steroidal sapogenin found in several plants—most famously in wild yam (Dioscorea species) and fenugreek. In the lab, it has long served as a raw material for synthesizing steroid hormones. In the body, however, diosgenin acts differently: it does not convert into progesterone or estrogen, and its potential benefits come from separate biological effects. Early...
