Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsMental Health BenefitsPossible Side EffectsDosage and PreparationWhat to Look For

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Table of Contents

Mental Health Benefits

Possible Side Effects

Dosage and Preparation

What to Look For

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The content of this article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any question you may have regarding dietary supplements.

Glycine is a naturally occurringamino acidinvolved in various biochemical processes in the body, including the synthesis of DNA and RNA, the production of enzymes, and the metabolism of fats.

Glycine can be found in foods such as meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, as well as some plant-based foods, such as beans and legumes. Glycine supplements are made from pure glycine that has been extracted from these foods.

Glycine has been shown to have various mental health benefits. Below is a brief list of some of the ways glycine can improve mental health:

If you are interested in trying glycine for yourself, it is important to speak with a healthcare provider to see if it is right for you. Glycine is generally considered safe, but there is always a risk of side effects when taking any supplement.

In addition, it is important to be aware that the research on glycine’s mental health benefits is still quite limited, and more research is needed to confirm its efficacy. Nevertheless, glycine shows promise as a natural treatment for various mental health conditions.

Glycine is generally considered safe and well-tolerated. However, some people may experience side effects, such as abdominal pain (generally reported when taken on an empty stomach) and soft stools.If you experience any of these side effects, please consult with your healthcare provider.

Glycine may also interact with certain medications, so it is important to be aware of these potential interactions before taking glycine. For example, there may be some data to suggest glycine may decrease the effects of Clozaril.Therefore, it is important to speak with a mental health professional or physician if you are taking any medication before taking glycine.

Glycine is available in supplement form and can be taken orally. The dosage of glycine may vary depending on the condition being treated. For example, the recommended dosage for improving sleep quality is often 3 grams before bedtime.It is important to speak with a healthcare provider before taking glycine to ensure you are taking the appropriate dosage.

When purchasing glycine supplements, it is important to choose a product that is high quality and from a reputable source. Look on the label to make sure the product contains 100% pure glycine.

In addition, it is important to choose a product that has been third-party tested for quality and safety. Foods that naturally contain glycine include meat, poultry, fish, and dairy products. Glycine is also found in some plant-based foods, such as beans and legumes.

Frequently Asked QuestionsNo, glycine andglutamineare two different amino acids. Glycine can act as an inhibitory neurotransmitter, while glutamine is a precursor of two other neurotransmitters, glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter and gaba, an inhibitor neurotransmitter.It is important to speak with your healthcare provider before taking multiple supplements to ensure they are safe to take together, as every body is different.As mentioned previously, taking glycine with certain antipsychotic medication may impact the effects of the medication. This may also apply to other medications you may currently be taking, so it’s best to seek advice from your healthcare provider.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, glycine andglutamineare two different amino acids. Glycine can act as an inhibitory neurotransmitter, while glutamine is a precursor of two other neurotransmitters, glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter and gaba, an inhibitor neurotransmitter.

It is important to speak with your healthcare provider before taking multiple supplements to ensure they are safe to take together, as every body is different.

As mentioned previously, taking glycine with certain antipsychotic medication may impact the effects of the medication. This may also apply to other medications you may currently be taking, so it’s best to seek advice from your healthcare provider.

9 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Pérez-Torres I, Zuniga-Munoz AM, Guarner-Lans V.Beneficial Effects of the Amino Acid Glycine.Mini Rev Med Chem. 2017;17(1):15-32. doi:10.2174/1389557516666160609081602Bannai M, Kawai N, Ono K, Nakahara K, Murakami N.The effects of glycine on subjective daytime performance in partially sleep-restricted healthy volunteers. Front Neurol. 2012 Apr 18;3:61. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2012.00061. PMID: 22529837; PMCID: PMC3328957.File SE, Fluck E, Fernandes C.Beneficial effects of glycine (bioglycin) on memory and attention in young and middle-aged adults.J Clin Psychopharmacol. 1999;19(6):506-512. doi:10.1097/00004714-199912000-00004Ahn J, Ahn HS, Cheong JH, Dela Peña I.Natural Product-Derived Treatments for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Safety, Efficacy, and Therapeutic Potential of Combination Therapy. Neural Plast. 2016;2016:1320423. doi: 10.1155/2016/1320423. Epub 2016 Feb 4. PMID: 26966583; PMCID: PMC4757677.Javitt DC, Silipo G, Cienfuegos A, et al.Adjunctive high-dose glycine in the treatment of schizophrenia.Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2001;4(4):385-391. doi:10.1017/S1461145701002590Inagawa K, Kawai N, Ono K, Sukegawa E, Tsubuku S, Takahashi M.Assessment of acute adverse events of glycine ingestion at a high dose in human volunteers.SEIKATSU EISEI (Journal of Urban Living and Health Association). 2006;50(1):27-32. doi:10.11468/seikatsueisei.50.27Heresco-Levy U, Javitt DC, Ermilov M, Mordel C, Silipo G, Lichtenstein M.Efficacy of high-dose glycine in the treatment of enduring negative symptoms of schizophrenia.Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1999;56(1):29-36. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.56.1.29Bannai M, Kawai N.New therapeutic strategy for amino acid medicine: glycine improves the quality of sleep.J Pharmacol Sci. 2012;118(2):145-8.The role of glutamine in supporting gut health and neuropsychiatric factors.Food Science and Human Wellness. 2021;10(2):149-154. doi:10.1016/j.fshw.2021.02.003

9 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Pérez-Torres I, Zuniga-Munoz AM, Guarner-Lans V.Beneficial Effects of the Amino Acid Glycine.Mini Rev Med Chem. 2017;17(1):15-32. doi:10.2174/1389557516666160609081602Bannai M, Kawai N, Ono K, Nakahara K, Murakami N.The effects of glycine on subjective daytime performance in partially sleep-restricted healthy volunteers. Front Neurol. 2012 Apr 18;3:61. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2012.00061. PMID: 22529837; PMCID: PMC3328957.File SE, Fluck E, Fernandes C.Beneficial effects of glycine (bioglycin) on memory and attention in young and middle-aged adults.J Clin Psychopharmacol. 1999;19(6):506-512. doi:10.1097/00004714-199912000-00004Ahn J, Ahn HS, Cheong JH, Dela Peña I.Natural Product-Derived Treatments for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Safety, Efficacy, and Therapeutic Potential of Combination Therapy. Neural Plast. 2016;2016:1320423. doi: 10.1155/2016/1320423. Epub 2016 Feb 4. PMID: 26966583; PMCID: PMC4757677.Javitt DC, Silipo G, Cienfuegos A, et al.Adjunctive high-dose glycine in the treatment of schizophrenia.Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2001;4(4):385-391. doi:10.1017/S1461145701002590Inagawa K, Kawai N, Ono K, Sukegawa E, Tsubuku S, Takahashi M.Assessment of acute adverse events of glycine ingestion at a high dose in human volunteers.SEIKATSU EISEI (Journal of Urban Living and Health Association). 2006;50(1):27-32. doi:10.11468/seikatsueisei.50.27Heresco-Levy U, Javitt DC, Ermilov M, Mordel C, Silipo G, Lichtenstein M.Efficacy of high-dose glycine in the treatment of enduring negative symptoms of schizophrenia.Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1999;56(1):29-36. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.56.1.29Bannai M, Kawai N.New therapeutic strategy for amino acid medicine: glycine improves the quality of sleep.J Pharmacol Sci. 2012;118(2):145-8.The role of glutamine in supporting gut health and neuropsychiatric factors.Food Science and Human Wellness. 2021;10(2):149-154. doi:10.1016/j.fshw.2021.02.003

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Pérez-Torres I, Zuniga-Munoz AM, Guarner-Lans V.Beneficial Effects of the Amino Acid Glycine.Mini Rev Med Chem. 2017;17(1):15-32. doi:10.2174/1389557516666160609081602Bannai M, Kawai N, Ono K, Nakahara K, Murakami N.The effects of glycine on subjective daytime performance in partially sleep-restricted healthy volunteers. Front Neurol. 2012 Apr 18;3:61. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2012.00061. PMID: 22529837; PMCID: PMC3328957.File SE, Fluck E, Fernandes C.Beneficial effects of glycine (bioglycin) on memory and attention in young and middle-aged adults.J Clin Psychopharmacol. 1999;19(6):506-512. doi:10.1097/00004714-199912000-00004Ahn J, Ahn HS, Cheong JH, Dela Peña I.Natural Product-Derived Treatments for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Safety, Efficacy, and Therapeutic Potential of Combination Therapy. Neural Plast. 2016;2016:1320423. doi: 10.1155/2016/1320423. Epub 2016 Feb 4. PMID: 26966583; PMCID: PMC4757677.Javitt DC, Silipo G, Cienfuegos A, et al.Adjunctive high-dose glycine in the treatment of schizophrenia.Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2001;4(4):385-391. doi:10.1017/S1461145701002590Inagawa K, Kawai N, Ono K, Sukegawa E, Tsubuku S, Takahashi M.Assessment of acute adverse events of glycine ingestion at a high dose in human volunteers.SEIKATSU EISEI (Journal of Urban Living and Health Association). 2006;50(1):27-32. doi:10.11468/seikatsueisei.50.27Heresco-Levy U, Javitt DC, Ermilov M, Mordel C, Silipo G, Lichtenstein M.Efficacy of high-dose glycine in the treatment of enduring negative symptoms of schizophrenia.Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1999;56(1):29-36. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.56.1.29Bannai M, Kawai N.New therapeutic strategy for amino acid medicine: glycine improves the quality of sleep.J Pharmacol Sci. 2012;118(2):145-8.The role of glutamine in supporting gut health and neuropsychiatric factors.Food Science and Human Wellness. 2021;10(2):149-154. doi:10.1016/j.fshw.2021.02.003

Pérez-Torres I, Zuniga-Munoz AM, Guarner-Lans V.Beneficial Effects of the Amino Acid Glycine.Mini Rev Med Chem. 2017;17(1):15-32. doi:10.2174/1389557516666160609081602

Bannai M, Kawai N, Ono K, Nakahara K, Murakami N.The effects of glycine on subjective daytime performance in partially sleep-restricted healthy volunteers. Front Neurol. 2012 Apr 18;3:61. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2012.00061. PMID: 22529837; PMCID: PMC3328957.

File SE, Fluck E, Fernandes C.Beneficial effects of glycine (bioglycin) on memory and attention in young and middle-aged adults.J Clin Psychopharmacol. 1999;19(6):506-512. doi:10.1097/00004714-199912000-00004

Ahn J, Ahn HS, Cheong JH, Dela Peña I.Natural Product-Derived Treatments for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Safety, Efficacy, and Therapeutic Potential of Combination Therapy. Neural Plast. 2016;2016:1320423. doi: 10.1155/2016/1320423. Epub 2016 Feb 4. PMID: 26966583; PMCID: PMC4757677.

Javitt DC, Silipo G, Cienfuegos A, et al.Adjunctive high-dose glycine in the treatment of schizophrenia.Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2001;4(4):385-391. doi:10.1017/S1461145701002590

Inagawa K, Kawai N, Ono K, Sukegawa E, Tsubuku S, Takahashi M.Assessment of acute adverse events of glycine ingestion at a high dose in human volunteers.SEIKATSU EISEI (Journal of Urban Living and Health Association). 2006;50(1):27-32. doi:10.11468/seikatsueisei.50.27

Heresco-Levy U, Javitt DC, Ermilov M, Mordel C, Silipo G, Lichtenstein M.Efficacy of high-dose glycine in the treatment of enduring negative symptoms of schizophrenia.Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1999;56(1):29-36. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.56.1.29

Bannai M, Kawai N.New therapeutic strategy for amino acid medicine: glycine improves the quality of sleep.J Pharmacol Sci. 2012;118(2):145-8.

The role of glutamine in supporting gut health and neuropsychiatric factors.Food Science and Human Wellness. 2021;10(2):149-154. doi:10.1016/j.fshw.2021.02.003

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