Top 9 Benefits and Uses of Glycine

1. Builds muscle

Glycine is required for the synthesis of creatine, a chemical that provides energy to your muscles and helps with increasing muscle strength and size.

2. Repairs joints

Glycine is the main amino acid in collagen, which is crucial for your joints, tendons, and ligaments. Glycine has been demonstrated in studies to be necessary for the creation of flexible cartilage, help heal injured joints, and prevent the loss of mobility and functionality in older people.

3. Reduces inflammation

Glycine is a dietary precursor to glutathione, a powerful antioxidant that plays a role in lowering inflammation and protecting against free radical damage. By inhibiting the generation of harmful inflammatory molecules, glycine can help prevent diseases linked to oxidative stress such as liver injury, ischemic stroke, and heart attack.

4. Protects the liver from alcohol damage

Excessive alcohol use can be damaging to the liver. By preventing inflammation, glycine can help minimize the detrimental effects of alcohol on the liver. Animal studies have shown that glycine may help reduce blood alcohol concentration in rats who were fed alcohol.

5. Protects heart health

Due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, glycine lowers the risk of heart disease. In a 2015 study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, researchers examined the relationship between glycine plasma levels and acute myocardial infarction (heart attack). Study subjects included 4,109 people who had undergone elective coronary angiography to rule out stable angina (blockage in the coronary artery). According to the study, people with higher plasma glycine levels had a lower risk of heart disease and heart attack.

6. Helps improve metabolic disorders

Glycine is believed to aid in the treatment of diabetes and other metabolic diseases. Glycine lowers glycated hemoglobin, a risk factor associated with poor blood sugar control in people with type II diabetes. It also increases the release of a gut hormone (glucagon) that aids insulin in the removal of glucose from the bloodstream. 

In addition, glycine increases adiponectin levels, a chemical that controls satiety and fat metabolism. This may lead to weight reduction in people who are obese, although this effect has only been seen in cell studies.

7. Improves digestive system

Bone broth has been used for many years to treat digestive issues because it contains high levels of glycine, which promotes the health of the gut wall and mucosa. Glycine can help speed up the healing of ulcers and regulation of stomach acidity.

8. Improves sleep quality

Glycine helps activate the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor in the brain, which may have a calming effect on the brain and lower core body temperature, both of which can help improve symptoms of sleep disorders. 

9. Builds immunity

Glycine promotes the synthesis of glutathione, an essential antioxidant that protects cells against free radicals, peroxide (a molecule that binds to the radicals), and lipid peroxidation (oxidative stress of lipids). By protecting your body against oxidative stress, glycine can help boost your immune system.

Glycine is typically well-tolerated by most healthy adults, it can cause side effects such as:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Stomach upset
• Soft stools
• Interactions with other prescription drugs such as clozapine
• Several common drugs and supplements have been scientifically proven to interact with glycine. Before starting to use glycine as a supplement, you should consult your physician to see whether it is safe for you.