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What is Glycocyamine (GAA)?

Have you ever wondered why most guys can very quickly see massive gains when taking creatine while many others only see minimal results? Individual response to creatine supplements like Creatine Mono and Creatine Ethyl Ester can vary widely such that about 25% of creatine takers will see reduced benefits or almost no benefit whatsoever. Liver enzymes for some people are believed to metabolize the vast majority of ingested creatine before it has a chance to reach general blood circulation. Glycocyamine may sound like an amino acid with an attached sugar group but that's not what it is. Glycocyamine is a metabolic precursor to creatine that can be converted into creatine in the liver. Glycocyamine is essentially a creatine molecule without an attached methyl group (creatine's chemical name is methylguanidinoacetic acid). Take the methyl group off of creatine and you have glycocyamine (guanidinoacetic acid).

Glycocyamine, also known as 2-guanidinoacetic acid, is a member of a group of compounds known as guanidino compounds and is the immediate precursor to creatine in the body. As previously mentioned, it is creatine minus a methyl group. Also called guanidinoacetate (GAA), glycocyamine is a naturally occurring compound in the human body like creatine. As the precursor of creatine, in essence Glycocyamine is creatine before creatine takes its final form, and that explains why Glycocyamine exhibits and delivers creatine-like results.

Glycocyamine is created in the process of transferring the amidine group from l-Arginine to glycine. It is made in the body from arginine and glycine by glycine amidinotransferase, primarily in the kidney, and then a portion of the formed GAA is moved to the liver, where it is methylated to creatine by guanidinoacetate methyltransferase (GAMT). Glycocyamine is an ingredient in many popular bodybuilding supplements and creatine products, and it is claimed that it increases endogenous creatine production, thus operating synergistically with creatine. Glycocyamine is being promoted for body building and increased muscle mass in conjunction with or as an alternative to creatine.

If you have trouble seeing the big gains your friends are putting on with creatine, or if you can't stomach one of the most bitter tasting amino acids (e.g. Creatine Ethyl Ester), try switching to glycocyamine. Many creatine users report that their gains with glycocyamine are just as good or better. Many report they have fewer problems with gastric upset and bloating. Moreover, many creatine users also report that taking 3 to 7 grams glycocyamine in addition to their usual creatine dose can enhance their creatine gains by as much as 50%, or 1.5 times better than creatine alone.

What is Glycocyamine used for and who uses it?

Bodybuilders, show of strength competitors (weightlifters, powerlifters, strongman athletes), and performance athletes that are supplementing with creatine can benefit a great deal from adding glycocyamine in their training and supplementation regimen. Glycocyamine should be taken along with creatine because Glycocyamine supplementation can ensure a more powerful effect from the use of creatine. Glycocyamine also appears to be very effective for those who are not able to get the most out of their creatine supplementation. In other words, it turns creatine "non-responders" into "responders," thus giving you more bang for your buck whenever you use creatine. Scientists also believe from clinical findings this nutrient can also boost your own creatine production.

Creatine hands down is one of the best products available that can efficiently and effectively increase overall muscular mass and strength, athletic performance, and protein synthesis. With Glycocyamine, optimal levels of muscle ATP is better supported for improved overall exercise performance above and beyond what can be expected from regular or standalone creatine formulations.

In medicine, for over 30 years, guanidinoacetic acid (GAA), together with other guanidino compounds, has been proposed as an important marker for renal failure, in kidney transplantation, and for renal metabolism, particularly for the metabolic activity of the renal proximal tubules. Since the first patient with guanidinoacetic acid methyltransferase deficiency in 1994 was discovered, glycocyamine has since become interesting for medical practitioners since it has promising applications in medicine especially in laboratories involved in the diagnosis of metabolic diseases.

How does Glycocyamine work?

Many creatine users are not familiar that creatine is found naturally in your body. By increasing the body's own creatine production, researchers believe it's possible to magnify the effects of supplemental creatine and end up bigger and stronger. Aside from taking creatine supplements, another way to increase creatine levels in the body is to have more of the ingredients that make up creatine. In the chemical reactions that produce creatine, Glycocyamine or GAA goes to our liver and muscle cells, where it gets transformed to creatine. The creatine that's produced in the liver then enters the blood supply and travels to the muscles. In essence, you increase the amount of creatine going in the muscle and the amount of creatine being created in the muscle by using the creatine precursor Glycocyamine.

Animal studies and preliminary research with bodybuilders suggests that using glycocyamine makes it possible for the body to continue manufacturing creatine when it would ordinarily be reduced or even temporarily stopped. Glycocyamine worked for almost everyone, producing and yielding the typical benefits achieved with creatine use. Additionally, no one noticed the stomach upset and bloating commonly associated when using creatine. Another reason supplement makers add GAA to their creatine products is because GAA have been proven to enhance glucose and creatine uptake by muscle cells.

How pure is your Glycocyamine?

This pharmaceutical grade pure bulk powder amino acid Glycocyamine is assayed by the manufacturer to be 99.6% product (normal range 99.0% and up). This Glycocyamine powder is an ultra-white nutritional raw material with no additives, fillers or anti-caking agents included. The remaining 0.4% by weight are inactive byproducts of the extraction.

What is the daily suggested dose of Glycocyamine?

The typically recommended dose for Glycocyamine varies between 500-1000 milligrams (1 gram) of Glycocyamine for every 5 grams of creatine, depending upon individual needs. For bodybuilders and performance athletes one half level teaspoon will supply approximately 1129 milligrams, or just about 1 gram for the bulk density of this Glycocyamine powder. You can see the full bulk density/volumetric conversion chart for Glycocyamine here.

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 is the most important thing you need to know about Glycocyamine?

What we want everyone to take away from this fact sheet is that glycocyamine is an amazing new nutrient that can offer great benefits to both creatine responders and non responders alike. It is a compound that everyone should consider adding to his or her supplementation program. An optimal dosage is 0.5 gram -1 gram or 1000 mg per day. The only drawback and caution is to use Betaine and make sure its dosage is 3-4 times the amount of glycocyamine.

If you take glycocyamine in any dosage, it is imperative to also take 3- 4 times the amount of betaine. To get the full potential benefit and greatest muscle gains with Glycocyamine supplementation you must take another supplement that will provide the methyl groups that your liver enzymes will need to convert Glycocyamine into Creatine. The best tasting and least expensive methyl group donor is Betaine Anhydrous, also known as Trimethylglycine Anhydrous. Betaine Anhydrous is essentially the amino acid Glycine with three attached methyl groups which when taken in combination with Glycocyamine will provide the free methyl groups necessary for the conversion of Glycocyamine into Creatine.

What kind of results do people anticipate while taking Glycocyamine?

Glycocyamine delivers creatine-like results, including improved performance, delayed muscle fatigue, and above average gains in both muscle size and strength. Supplement experts believe based on research and studies that glycocyamine plus creatine works about 1.5 times better than creatine alone.

Precautions and Potential side effects of Glycocyamine

Glycocyamine is a direct precursor of creatine and is used as a supplement. However the metabolism of creatine from glycocyamine in the liver causes a depletion of methyl groups. This causes homocysteine levels to rise, which (as has been demonstrated in studies ) can lead to cardiovascular and skeletal problems. There's no need for alarm here though, because taking betaine (betaine anhydrous) should provide the necessary methyl groups and act as a methyl donor to counter this effect. In general, as of July 2009 in medical literature, no major side effects have been reported regarding supplementation with this nutrient.

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.

Solubility, and Preparation of of Glycocyamine

Glycocyamine does not easily dissolve in water but it is easily mixed with and suspended in water and has virtually no taste. Just previous to your workouts mix one level half tablespoon (about 3.4 grams) Glycocyamine in a glass of water, then add and stir in one tablespoon Betaine Anhydrous (about 9.2 grams), and drink. Glycocyamine works best when taken with creatine. Supplement experts think that glycocyamine plus creatine works about 1.5 times better than creatine alone.

Glycocyamine is used in the following Proprietary Formulas

Plasma Expandor, EndoCre3, Muscle Milk, BioQuest Fusion Force, BSN NO-Xplode, CytoSport Fast Twitch RTD, Double-T Sports CreaDyl, Dymatize Xpand, ISS Research Satur8, Pride Nutrition Retaliate, S.A.N. V-12 Turbo

References & Further Research

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: Betaine in human nutrition
A series of papers (179-182) showed that a combination of betaine and guanidinoacetate (glycocyamine) improves the symptoms of subjects with chronic illness, including heart disease, without toxicity. Betaine can provide a methyl group to guanidinoacetate, via methionine, for the formation of creatine (179). Overall, treatment led to an improved sense of well-being, less fatigue, greater strength and endurance, and increased desire for (and performance of) physical and mental work. Subjects with cardiac decompensation (arteriosclerosis or rheumatic disease) (180) and congestive heart failure (181) had improved cardiac function. Subjects gained weight (improved nitrogen balance) and reported lessened symptoms of arthritis and asthma and increased libido, and those with hypertension experienced transient reduced blood pressure.

Brain creatine depletion: guanidinoacetate methyltransferase deficiency (improving with creatine supplementation)
The authors describe an Italian child with guanidinoacetate methyltransferase deficiency, neurologic regression, movement disorders, and epilepsy during the first year of life. Clinical, biochemical, and neuroradiologic improvement followed creatine supplementation.

Glycocyamine for International Customers

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