Glycine is a nonessential amino acid meaning that it is not necessary to obtain from dietary that has numerous effects in the body. It is used to help to create muscle tissue and convert glucose into energy and to prevent the breakdown of muscle by boosting the body’s levels of creatine.
Glycine may also enhance the firing of nerves that stimulate muscles to contract; recent study suggests that maintaining glycine levels could prevent sports injuries, such as muscle strains and sprains.
A big percentage of collagen is composed of glycine, without glycine the body would not be able to repair damaged tissues; the skin would become damaged and wounds would never heal.
Glycine is also known as glucogenic amino acid, because it provides glucose to the body, which needs for energy and adjusts the blood sugar levels. Glycine supplementation helps treating symptoms such as fatigue, hypoglycemia, anemia, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).
Studies on men and women with sleep difficulties appear to show that glycine supplementation promotes deep sleep. Subjects who took three grams of glycine within an hour of bedtime reportedly fell asleep and exhibited brainwave patterns associated with deep, non-REM sleep
Glycine, an amino acid, is known to accumulate in the pineal gland of rodents during sleep,' and is believed to play an important role in "disconnecting" the brain from the body during REM (rapid eye movement)
Individuals with kidney or liver disease should not consume glycine without consulting their doctor. Taking any one amino acid supplement can cause a disruption of the citric acid or Krebs cycle, and cause a build-up of nitrogen or ammonia in the body, which makes the liver and kidneys work harder to remove waste.
References 1. Redecker P,. Evidence for microvesicular storage and release of glycine in rodent pinealocytes. Neurosei Lett. 2001 Feb 16;299(l-2):93-6.
2. Chase MH,. Evidence that glycine mediates the postsynaptic potentials that inhibit lumbar motoneurons during the atonia of active sleep. J Neurosei. 1989 Mar;9(3):743-51
