Glycine is the simplest and most omnipresent amino acid in your body and provides many and varied benefits. It can help maintain a healthy function of the central nervous system and promote relaxation and the normal function of muscles.
Most of the glycine in the body becomes incorporated in proteins, but free glycine acts as a neurotransmitter involved in regulating appetite, behavior, and general homeostasis.
Glycine has fundamental roles
This amino acid has crucial roles in support of:
- Healthy gene expression
- Cellular antioxidant processes and regulated oxidative stress
- Immune system function
- Growth, developement, and survival
- Detoxification, by combining with toxic substances and converting them to easy-to-excrete harmless forms
Glycine for sleep, memory & mood
Research shows that, when taken before bed, this amino acid may promote healthy quality sleep without causing daytime drowsiness.
While being involved in growth, glycine can have a calming effect on your brain and positively impact attention, cognition,memory, mood and mental health.
Glycation, metabolism, blood pressure & more
Glycine has been demonstrated to inhibit protein glycation and production of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs).
Evidence from laboratory and clinical trials shows that glycine may help support healthy glucose and fructose metabolism.
Research also shows glycine may help maintain normal blood pressure. A study that included more than 4,000 subjects found higher glycine levels were correlated with cardiovascular protection and better metabolic health.
Moreover, glycine has been shown to support health of the gastric and intestinal lining. And, like other one-carbon molecules, glycine has been linked to longevity.
High dose glycine for optimal benefits
For optimal effects the recommended intake for adults is one (1) to three (3) grams of glycine. Studies suggest that even much higher doses are safe to take.
However, most glycine products are only available in 500 mg capsules, making them costly. For that purpose,