Description
Glycine is the smallest and simplest amino acid in the human body. While synthesized naturally, internal production often falls short of optimal requirements, classifying it as a “conditionally essential” nutrient. It is safe, well-tolerated, possesses a sweet taste, and can be consumed via protein-rich foods (like tough cuts of meat, gelatin, and hydrolyzed collagen) or as a dietary supplement.
Key Health Benefits
- Antioxidant Production & Cellular Longevity
- Glutathione Synthesis: Glycine is the primary rate-limiting factor and one of three amino acids required to produce glutathione—a powerful antioxidant that shields mitochondria from free radicals and oxidative stress. Glutathione levels naturally decline with age.
- The “GlyNAC” Synergy: Combining Glycine with N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) creates GlyNAC. Co-supplementing these precursors corrects glutathione deficiencies, reduces mitochondrial dysfunction, lowers systemic inflammation, and promotes healthy cellular aging.
- Deep Sleep and Thermoregulation
- Glycine acts as a natural, non-sedative sleep aid when taken 30 to 60 minutes before bed.
- Mechanism: It triggers peripheral vasodilation (increased blood flow to the hands and feet), shifting heat away from the body’s interior. This drops the core body temperature, signalling the brain to enter deep sleep.
- Sleep Architecture: A standard clinical dose of 3 grams improves deep sleep continuity and reduces morning grogginess without disrupting natural sleep cycles.
- Structural Integrity and Tissue Repair
- Collagen Production: Glycine makes up one-third of the amino acids in collagen and is mandatory for synthesizing collagen and elastin. It supports the skin, joints, connective tissues, ligaments, cartilage, vascular walls, and bones.
- Enhanced Absorption: Taking glycine bound to other amino acids (as in hydrolyzed collagen) is more efficient than supplementing glycine alone, as standalone glycine competes with other amino acids for absorption.
- Creatine Synthesis: Glycine combines with arginine and methionine to form creatine, which provides quick energy bursts to skeletal muscles. When paired with resistance training, it increases muscle size, strength, and power. Creatine also supports brain function and cognitive processing.
- Cardiometabolic Health & Inflammation Control
- Heart & Blood Pressure: Glycine may protect against heart disease and improves the body’s utilization of nitric oxide, which increases blood flow and lowers blood pressure.
- Metabolic Health: Supplementing with glycine improves impaired insulin action, lowers plasma triglycerides, and supports liver health, benefiting individuals with type 2 diabetes or metabolic dysfunction.
- Inflammation Suppression: It exerts anti-inflammatory effects by downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines and shifting specialized macrophages (like microglia) into an anti-inflammatory state.
- Muscle Preservation: Glycine helps reduce muscle wasting associated with aging, malnutrition, severe burns, cancer, and AIDS.
- Liver Detoxification
Glycine is a crucial asset during Phase 2 (Conjugation) of liver detoxification, transforming fat-soluble toxins into water-soluble forms for elimination. It works through multiple pathways:
- Direct Amino Acid Conjugation: Uses the GLYAT enzyme to bind directly to foreign chemical substances (xenobiotics), safely clearing food preservatives (benzoates), certain medications (aspirin), and environmental toxins.
- Glutathione Conjugation: Prevents bottlenecks in clearing heavy metals and acetaminophen. Low glycine depletes glutathione, causing localized liver tissue damage (hepatotoxicity).
- Bile Acid Conjugation: Conjugates raw, corrosive bile acids into safe bile salts (like glycocholic acid) to safely transport lipophilic wastes, heavy metals, mold toxins (mycotoxins), bilirubin, and excess cholesterol out of the body via the GI tract.
- Kupffer Cell Stabilization: Acts as an inhibitory signal to prevent the overactivation of the liver’s resident immune cells, shielding liver tissue from “friendly fire” inflammatory damage, fat accumulation, and cellular scarring. It has been shown to speed up and even reverse alcohol-induced liver injuries (fatty liver, hepatitis, and cirrhosis).Dosage:
Target Benefit Typical Clinical Dose Primary Mechanism Sleep Quality 3g – 5g before bed Lowers core body temperature; increases inhibitory neurotransmission Antioxidant Support (GlyNAC) 100 mg/kg/day (varied) Fuels glutathione synthesis to protect mitochondria Collagen & Joint Repair 5g – 15g daily Provides structural building blocks for the extracellular matrix Liver Detoxification 3g – 7g daily Drives Phase 2 amino acid, glutathione, and bile conjugation Metabolic & Cardiac Health 10g – 15g daily (divided) Lowers triglycerides, balances 1-carbon cycle, downregulates NF-κB Side effects and precautions:
- Glycine has an excellent safety record with no reported serious side effects. While standard clinical doses range from 3 to 15 grams per day, studies have safely administered up to 90 grams per day over several weeks.
- Keep out of reach of children.
- If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or have a medical condition, consult your healthcare practitioner before use.
- There is no known toxic level.
Ingredients: 100% Glycine powder.
All powders are Halal & Kosher, and suitable for vegetarians or vegans.
All Sally T. products are non-returnable and non-refundable.
