Glycine – Benefits, Foods and Supplementation

  • Glycine is the smallest non-essential, neutral and metabolically inert amino acid. This amino acid is an essential substrate for the synthesis of several biologically important biomolecules and compounds.
  • It participates in the synthesis of proteins, of the tripeptide glutathione and in detoxification reactions. It has a broad spectrum of anti-inflammatory, cryoprotective and immunomodulatory properties.
  • Glycine can be used for schizophrenia, stroke, and memory and thinking skills (cognitive function).
  • It is also used to protect kidneys from the harmful side effects of certain drugs used after organ transplantation as well as the liver from harmful effects of alcohol.

Foods

  • Meat
  • Chicken
  • Fish
  • Dairy products
  • Legumes
  • Beans
  • Nuts
  • Seeds

Supplementation

  • Glycine can be supplemented in appropriate dosages to improve or control below health conditions:
  • Memory loss and Schizophrenia.
  • Improve blood supply to brain and reduce brain damage during blood clots.
  • Improve memory and thinking skills.
  • Improve lung function and breathing by a small amount in patients with Cystic fibrosis.
  • Taking glycine before bedtime for 2-4 days seems to improve sleep in people with poor sleep quality. Taking glycine before bedtime might also reduce feelings of tiredness the following day after a shortened night of sleep. 
  • Liver and Kidney protection
  • Multiple protective effects make glycine a promising treatment strategy for inflammatory diseases.

~Praveen Jada

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References:

GLYCINE: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews (webmd.com)

L-Glycine: a novel antiinflammatory, immunomodulatory, and cytoprotective agent – PubMed (nih.gov)

Glycine – PubMed (nih.gov)

Multifarious Beneficial Effect of Nonessential Amino Acid, Glycine: A Review (nih.gov)