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What is Glycine?

Glycine is among the non-essential amino acids necessary in not just facilitating the formation of muscle tissue, but in converting glucose into energy as well. It is also required to ensure and maintain the health of the central nervous and digestive systems. Recent studies have demonstrated that Glycine is effective in providing protection via antioxidants from some types of cancer. Since Glycine helps the body convert glucose into energy, it is considered a glucogenic amino acid, a substance that ensures the body gets its adequate glucose needed for energy. It assists in the regulation of blood sugar levels, and because of this glycine supplementation may be beneficial for treating symptoms characterized by low energy and fatigue, such as hypoglycemia, anemia, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Glycine is also necessary for a healthy and normally functioning digestive system because it aids in controlling and regulating the synthesis and production of the bile acid used to digest fats. For this reason and attribute, Glycine is included in numerous commercial gastric antacids.

Glycine, a nonessential amino acid derived from the alkaline hydrolysis of gelatin, is a protein amino acid found in the protein of all life forms. Glycine is the simplest of the 20 natural amino acids and the only one of its kind that does not have optical isomers. Glycine is not classified as an essential amino acid because the cells in the body can synthesize adequate amounts of glycine to meet its requirements. Glycine can also be synthesized from other amino acids in the liver, and as such it does not have to be obtained directly through the diet. Glycine can be synthesized from choline in the liver or kidney and from the amino acids threonine and serine. In the fasting state, it can be transformed back to serine. This is primarily used by the body to assist the liver in detoxification of compounds and to facilitate the synthesis of bile acids. It has a sweet taste and is also used for that purpose sometimes as a mild sweetener in foods or drugs. Glycine shares a similarity with gamma-aminobutyric acid and glutamic acid in their ability to inhibit neurotransmitter signals in the central nervous system. The best dietary sources of Glycine are high-protein foods, such as meat, fish, dairy products, and legumes and beans. Glycine is also available in capsule and powder forms, and as a constituent of many combination amino acid supplements.

Glycine is largely used in the body to help build normal DNA and RNA strands, the genetic material required for proper cellular function and formation. It helps prevent the breakdown of muscle by boosting the body’s levels of creatine, a compound that helps build muscle mass. High levels of glycine are also found in the skin and other connective tissues, not just in the muscles. This is because a large portion of the substance that keeps the skin and connective tissue firm and flexible, otherwise known as collagen, is composed of glycine. Without glycine, wounds would never heal, and the skin would easily succumb to UV rays, oxidation, and free radical damage, and would become slack because the body would not be able to repair damaged tissues.

Results from earlier studies of glycine as a possible treatment for cancer have been promising, and suggest that it may help prevent the development of cancerous tumors and melanoma. In laboratory mice, dietary glycine kept tumor growth at bay by inhibiting angiogenisis, the process and stage by which tumors start to create their own blood supply. Glycine also appears to have a critical role in maintaining prostate health. In one study, glycine was demonstrated to minimize the symptoms of prostatic hyperplasia in men.

What is Glycine used for and who uses it?

Glycine is crucial for the synthesis of nucleic acids, bile acids, proteins, peptides, purines, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), porphyrins, hemoglobin, glutathione, creatine, bile salts, one-carbon fragments, glucose, glycogen, and l-serine and other amino acids. Glucagon is a hormone that is responsible for converting the glycogen stored in the liver to glucose for the body’s energy requirements. Glycine triggers and promotes the release of glucose into the blood stream by stimulating the glucagon hormone. Glycine is also an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, and can be found in high concentrations in the spinal cord. As such Glycine systems may be important in controlling epilepsy and other CNS disorders.

Clinical studies have demonstrated that supplementation with glycine may be helpful in controlling and alleviating symptoms of spasticity, and it has also been shown to be an effective anti-convulsant. In high doses it has been shown to be helpful in managing and controlling symptoms of schizophrenia. Glycine also enhances the activity of other neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) in the brain that are involved in memory and cognition. Unlike its charged counterparts which have difficulty passing the blood-brain barrier, Glycine is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that readily crosses the blood-brain barrier and is able to convert many potentially harmful substances including toxic phenolic materials such as benzoic acid (sodium benzoate) into harmless forms.

Recent research and clinical trials have shown that the amino acid Glycine is of paramount importance for central nervous system function as it can help inhibit the neurotransmitters that cause seizure activity, hyperactivity, and manic (bipolar) depression. When the need arises for another neurotransmitter beneficial in the management of schizophrenia, Glycine can also be changed to serine. In one trial, schizophrenic patients, who were non-responsive to conventional treatments and medications, used glycine in conjunction with their ongoing antipsychotic prescriptions and found that it significantly reduced their symptoms. Studies have shown that glycine is also beneficial in improving memory retrieval loss in people suffering from a wide array of sleep-depriving conditions, including schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, jet lag, and overwork.

How pure is your Glycine?

This pure bulk amino acid Glycine powder is assayed by the manufacturer to be 99.2% product (98.5% minimum). You will receive a sealed and labeled heavy duty 4 mil polyethylene bag containing this white granular powder product. It contains no fillers, taste additives, or anti-caking agents. The remaining 0.8% by weight are inactive byproducts of the extraction.

Glycine is a non-essential amino acid and has the simplest structure of all amino acids, a feature very important for specific bodily function because this allows it to easily blend within protein chains and provide space for its structurally larger amino acid counterparts. Glycine is a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system and of critical importance to the synthesis of protein, peptides, creatine, purines, bile salts, glycogen, hemoglobin, ATP, nucleic acids, porphyrins, glutathione, glucose, and numerous other amino acids. For these reasons, it makes sense to consider taking a supplement.

What are some of the common effects of Glycine?

Glycine is one of the few amino acids that ensures the body has enough glucose stored for energy, and it does this by improving glycogen storage. It is vital in brain metabolism because here it has a calming effect, and it is also necessary for the synthesis of the hemoglobin molecule, collagen, and glutathione. It can also be converted to creatine, a substance required to make DNA and RNA. Glycine is also beneficial in healing and treating wounds, either orally or topically, and in treating manic psychological states or problems of muscle spasticity. When the blood fats or uric acid levels exceed the optimal and healthy levels, Glycine restores normal amounts by facilitating the clearing or utilization these substances. Glycine may also be helpful in reducing gastric acidity; in higher doses, 4–8 grams, it stimulates growth hormone release; and it is also used as a mild sweetener in foods or drugs.

What is the daily suggested dose of Glycine?

Recommended doses for Glycine vary considerably, from as little as 1 gram per day in the treatment of chronic leg spasticity, to as much as 90 grams per day in the treatment of schizophrenia, depending upon individual needs. One half level tablespoon will supply approximately 6857 milligrams, or just about 7 grams for the bulk density of this glycine powder. You can see the full bulk density/volumetric conversion chart for Glycine here.

Most people do not need to take glycine because the body can manufacture itself. For the supplemental use of glycine for the support of serious health conditions, follow doctor’s advice. Doses used for management of schizophrenia have ranged from 40 to 90 grams daily. Studies examining the role of glycine in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia used doses ranging from 390 milligrams to 780 milligrams per day. Supplemental use of glycine at levels of 1 to 3 grams per day is useful in the treatment of certain forms of bipolar depression (manic depression).

As always, if you have concerns or questions, consult a physician or a health care professional before taking any supplements. Before taking any kind of medicine, check with your doctor to ensure that the supplement you want to take is right for you. You may be allergic or you may have a sensitive stomach which may raise the need for special instruction as far as dosage goes.

What kind of results do people anticipate while taking Glycine?

Glycine is a sweet tasting amino acid with notable health benefits. It supports wound healing, not just because it is a precursor of collagen protein, but also because it promotes and stimulates growth hormone which is necessary for healing. Glycine also improves the function of glucagon, a natural antidote against low blood sugar. This can be really beneficial when you miss a meal or commit to a weight loss diet. Glycine also increases muscle energy by combining with Arginine to form Creatine, an action that may help explain the healthy drop in blood fats (triglycerides) typically seen after Glycine. For those who suffer gouty pain after eating meats, alcohol, and coffee, Glycine can help because it can increase uric acid secretion and thus alleviate the pain. Glycine also neutralizes chemicals, including salicylates and phenols associated with food intolerance. In the brain it has a calming effect, which has been clinically proven useful against anxiety, irritability, even muscle spasm. In a nutshell, Glycine is a normalizer, facilitating muscle energy production and endurance while promoting relaxation and calm mood.

Toxicity, Deficiency, and Potential side effects of Glycine

Toxicity from overdosage of glycine is rare because glycine is made naturally in the body. There have been no toxic effects associated with glycine, although some people have reported that taking this supplement causes stomach upset. Usually the deficiency of glycine is rare because the body makes its own supply of the nonessential amino acids, but in those rare cases, glycine deficiency may inhibit DNA synthesis. One point to keep in mind is that the body needs a supply of all the amino acids in order to effectively create and utilize proteins so if you intend to supplement any of the amino acids it is of paramount importance that you have a balanced intake of all the other amino acids. Being deficient in even one amino acid will lower the efficiency of all the other amino acids in your body. People with liver or kidney disease should not take this or any other amino acid supplement without first consulting their physician. Getting too much of any one amino acid can throw the citric acid cycle out of balance, which makes the liver and kidneys work harder to eliminate toxins.

The information at Purebulk.com is NOT a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist. Do not use any dietary supplement as a replacement for conventional care, or as a reason to postpone seeing a doctor about a medical problem. Tell all your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.

Taste, solubility, and suggested preparation of Glycine

This product dissolves quickly in water and has an almost sugar like sweetness, quite delicious for an amino acid. Just mix your usual dose with water or citrus juice and drink.

Glycine is used in the following Proprietary Formulas

Genuine Brewers Yeast, Lean Body Chocolate Peanut Butter (Twinlab), Lean Body Mass (Labrada), Listol (Progressive Health), Myoplex Deluxe (EAS), NaNo Vapor (MuscleTech), Pro Blend 55 (Wellement), Superior Amino 2222 (Optimum Nutrition), Tronolane Cream (Lee Pharmaceuticals), Whey Protein Fuel

References & Further Research

Double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of glycine adjuvant therapy for treatment-resistant schizophrenia
It has been proposed that schizophrenia is associated with underactivity of brain glutamatergic neurotransmission, especially at the level of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) subtype of glutamate receptor. Glycine potentiates NMDA receptor-mediated neurotransmission, indicating that it may serve as an effective therapeutic agent in the treatment of schizophrenia. Eleven treatment-resistant patients with chronic schizophrenia completed a double-blind, placebo- controlled, six-week, randomly assigned, crossover treatment trial of 0.8 g/kg body weight/day of glycine, added to their prior antipsychotic treatment. Glycine was well tolerated, resulted in significantly increased serum glycine levels, with the greatest reduction in negative symptoms being registered in the patients who had the lowest baseline serum glycine levels. These results extend previous findings and suggest an additional approach to the pharmacotherapy of negative symptoms and cognitive deficits in schizophrenia.

Amelioration of negative symptoms in schizophrenia by glycine
Phencyclidine induces a psychotomimetic state by blocking neurotransmission at N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptors. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled fashion, 14 medicated patients with chronic schizophrenia were treated with glycine, a potentiator of NMDA- receptor-mediated neurotransmission. Significant improvement in negative symptoms occurred in the group given glycine but not in the group givenplacebo, suggesting that potentiation of NMDA-receptor- mediatedneurotransmission may represent an effective treatment forneuroleptic-resistant negative symptoms in schizophrenia.

The role of glycine in spinal shock
Suppression of increased muscle tone by epidural spinal cord stimulation, an invasive method for treating spasticity, increases segmental concentrations of inhibitory amino acid neurotransmitters, particularly glycine. The role of glycine in spasticity and spinal shock was explored further in rabbits with ischemic spinal cord injuries that produced spastic paraparesis or flaccid paraplegia. High concentrations of glycine within spinal cord segments is associated with spinal shock. Glycine and related compounds may be useful as treatment for excessive tone.

The influence of glycine and related compounds on spinal cord injury-induced spasticity
Spasticity is a frequent and complex sequel to spinal cord injury. The neurochemical basis for the origin of spasticity is largely unknown. Glycine is among the most abundant neurotransmitters in the spinal cord. However, the roles of glycine and related compounds in spasticity have received little attention. Overall data from this research details and indicate how glycine and related compounds may influence spasticity.

Glycine for International Customers

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