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Enhance Sleep, Relaxation, and Health Naturally with Glycine

Bulk Nutrients Ambassador Tammie Sarkozy setting on a chair

What is Glycine?

Glycine is a small but mighty amino acid that your body can produce on its own, but you might not be making enough to unlock its full benefits. 

It’s a key player in protein synthesis, brain function, detoxification, and collagen production, making it important for muscle recovery, cognitive health, and overall wellbeing.

Where Can You Find Glycine?

You’re already getting some glycine in your diet - just maybe not enough to hit optimal levels. Here’s where it naturally occurs:

  • Animal sources: Bone broth, gelatin, and collagen-rich meats (think slow-cooked brisket or tender osso buco).
  • Plant sources: Legumes, spinach, kale, and seeds pack a smaller glycine punch.

If you’re looking to increase your intake, pure glycine powder or glycine-rich collagen supplements offer a quick and easy way to top up.

The Benefits of Glycine Supplementation

While food sources provide glycine, diet alone may not always be enough to maximise its benefits - especially if collagen-rich foods aren’t a staple in your diet. That’s where supplementation steps in.

Better Sleep & Relaxation

Tossing and turning at night? Glycine may help your body wind down, lowering core temperature and calming the nervous system, making it easier to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.

One study found that taking 3 grams of glycine before bed helped participants fall asleep quicker and wake up feeling more refreshed.

And if you’re training hard, quality sleep isn’t a luxury - it’s a necessity. Deep, restorative sleep is crucial for muscle recovery, growth, and overall performance – so supplementing with glycine may help support your nighttime routine.

Woman asleep in bed

Brain Boosting & Mental Clarity

Ever feel wired but tired? Glycine acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter, helping to quiet an overactive brain so you can stay focused, think clearer, and react faster.

A clinical trial in the early ‘90s found that glycine supplementation improved word retrieval speed and accuracy in both young and older adults. This suggests that glycine may support cognitive function and memory, making it a potential ally for age-related cognitive decline and a useful tool for athletes who need mental sharpness and quick reaction times.

Whether you're chasing PBs in the gym or trying to stay sharp throughout the day, glycine could help keep your brain firing on all cylinders.

Joint, Muscle & Recovery Support

For those who train regularly, glycine is a key building block of collagen, which supports joint health, muscle recovery, and overall mobility - key factors for anyone leading an active lifestyle.

Supplementing with glycine may support:

  • Joint health – Strengthening tendons, ligaments, and connective tissue, which may reduce the risk of wear-and-tear injuries.
  • Muscle recovery – Assisting in muscle repair after intense workouts, helping you bounce back faster.
  • Flexibility & mobility – Helping to ease post-workout stiffness and support long-term joint function.
  • Energy & strength – As a precursor to creatine, glycine plays a role in muscle endurance, power, and overall performance.

A 2023 review highlighted glycine’s anti-inflammatory properties, suggesting it may play a role in joint health and mobility, particularly in aging individuals and active athletes. 

Metabolic & Longevity Benefits

Glycine is linked to blood sugar regulation, cardiovascular function, and healthy aging. In fact, a 2023 animal study discovered that glycine even has lifespan-extending potential.

A review article published in 2018 found that glycine may:

  • Support heart health – Potentially reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
  • Improve cholesterol levels – Help maintain a better balance of good vs. bad cholesterol.
  • Regulate blood pressure – Playing a role in circulatory health.

While it’s not quite the fountain of youth, it’s certainly a step in the right direction when it comes to healthy aging and metabolic support.

Man stretching outside next to a medicine ball and dumbbells

Inflammation, Weight Management & Disease Prevention

Research has increasingly highlighted glycine’s role in metabolic health, inflammation control, and chronic disease prevention. Studies suggest it may help:

  • Support weight management – Glycine has been linked to better fat metabolism and insulin sensitivity, which may support body composition goals.
  • Regulate blood sugar levels – Research shows glycine may enhance insulin response and improve glucose tolerance, making it a potential ally for metabolic health.
  • Reduce inflammation – Glycine may help balance immune function, which could support long-term health and recovery.

With research continuing to grow, glycine shows promise as a valuable tool for both metabolic and overall health.

Who Should Be Cautious with Glycine?

Glycine is considered safe for most people, but if you have pre-existing health conditions, take medications, or are pregnant or breastfeeding, it’s best to check with a healthcare professional before supplementing. 

As with any supplement, listen to your body and start with a lower dose if needed.

Why Glycine Deserves a Spot in Your Stack

Glycine might not steal the spotlight like some other supplements, but don’t let its quiet nature fool you. From better sleep and sharper thinking to joint support and metabolic health, this humble amino acid plays a big role in keeping your body performing at its best. 

If you’re looking for a simple, well-researched way to enhance recovery, support brain function, and promote longevity, glycine could be the missing link in your routine.

Nick Telesca - Technical Support Officer at Bulk Nutrients

Nick Telesca

Nick is Bulk's Customer Service team's Technical Support Officer.

Which is our way of saying he's the guy whose job it is to answer your obscenely technical supplement questions.

More about Nick Telesca

References:

  1. YAMADERA, W., INAGAWA, K., CHIBA, S., BANNAI, M., TAKAHASHI, M., & NAKAYAMA, K. (2007). Glycine ingestion improves subjective sleep quality in human volunteers, correlating with polysomnographic changes. Sleep and Biological Rhythms, 5(2), 126-131. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1479-8425.2007.00262.x
  2. Schwartz BL, Hashtroudi S, Herting RL, Handerson H, Deutsch SI. Glycine prodrug facilitates memory retrieval in humans. Neurology. 1991 Sep;41(9):1341-3. doi: 10.1212/wnl.41.9.1341. PMID: 1653913. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1653913/
  3. Aguayo-Cerón KA, Sánchez-Muñoz F, Gutierrez-Rojas RA, Acevedo-Villavicencio LN, Flores-Zarate AV, Huang F, Giacoman-Martinez A, Villafaña S, Romero-Nava R. Glycine: The Smallest Anti-Inflammatory Micronutrient. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Jul 8;24(14):11236. doi: 10.3390/ijms241411236. PMID: 37510995; PMCID: PMC10379184. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10379184/
  4. Johnson AA, Cuellar TL. Glycine and aging: Evidence and mechanisms. Ageing Res Rev. 2023 Jun;87:101922. doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.101922. Epub 2023 Mar 31. PMID: 37004845. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37004845/
  5. Rom O, Villacorta L, Zhang J, Chen YE, Aviram M. Emerging therapeutic potential of glycine in cardiometabolic diseases: dual benefits in lipid and glucose metabolism. Curr OpinLipidol. 2018 Oct;29(5):428-432. doi: 10.1097/MOL.0000000000000543. PMID: 30153136; PMCID: PMC6198663. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6198663/
  6. Aguayo-Cerón KA, Sánchez-Muñoz F, Gutierrez-Rojas RA, Acevedo-Villavicencio LN, Flores-Zarate AV, Huang F, Giacoman-Martinez A, Villafaña S, Romero-Nava R. Glycine: The Smallest Anti-Inflammatory Micronutrient. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Jul 8;24(14):11236. doi: 10.3390/ijms241411236. PMID: 37510995; PMCID: PMC10379184. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10379184/

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