Contents:

• What functions does glycine have in the body?
• Glycine properties
• The use of glycine
• Glycine sources

Glycine is one of the endogenous amino acids, i.e., those that our bodies produce themselves. This name comes from the Greek word "glykys," which means "sweet" because the taste of glycine is similar to the sweet taste of glucose. This amino acid is a neurotransmitter with important functions in the central nervous system. Glycine is used in cosmetics and in the production of medicines, among other things. It also has a positive effect on muscles, joints, and the digestive system, and because it also affects the condition of our hair and nails, we also find it in cosmetics designed to care for them. Glycine is often included in dietary supplements to support memory and concentration.

What functions does glycine have in the body?

Glycine is essential for the proper functioning of the body and acts as a neurotransmitter. In the central nervous system, it controls food intake and maintains the body's internal balance despite changes in the external environment. Glycine is also believed to improve sleep quality. This amino acid is also, among other things:

• participates in the synthesis of glucose, nucleotides, creatinine, purines,
• is a component of bile acids,
• participates in heme synthesis,
• participates in the synthesis of proteins, glutathione,
• participates in detoxification reactions,
• is a component that builds collagen and influences skin elasticity,
• has anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties,
• improves well-being.

Glycine properties

Glycine influences the proper functioning of many different processes in our body:

• supports the proper functioning of the brain and nervous system,
• strengthens memory, improves mental performance
• helps in the treatment of neurological diseases,
• supports the treatment of schizophrenia,
• reduces the feeling of anxiety and restlessness,
• can be used as a supportive treatment for depression and epilepsy,
• improves sleep quality,
• has a calming effect,
• helps to reduce the feeling of tiredness during the day,
• supports the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases,
• together with proline it has a protective effect on the digestive system,
• helps reduce inflammation in the digestive tract,
• prevents irritation of the digestive tract
• contributes to the reconstruction of the intestinal mucosa,
• inhibits the symptoms of intestinal inflammation and reflux
• helps relieve the symptoms of stomach ulcers,
• improves the composition of the intestinal flora,
• inhibits inflammation in the body,
• relieves inflammation of the joints and muscles,
• supports the process of muscle regeneration,
• prevents the loss of muscle mass in older people,
• is a building block for bones, joints, ligaments,
• improves skin elasticity.

The use of glycine

Glycine deficiency is relatively rare. It can be associated with a long-term low-protein diet or be the result of diseases that cause protein loss. Too little glycine can lead to impaired absorption of nutrients from food, resulting in stunted growth and immune system dysfunction. Supplementation with this amino acid supports the treatment of, for example, the following:

• Cardiovascular diseases,
• Diabetes,
• Obesity.

Glycine sources

• Glycine is an endogenous amino acid, meaning our bodies produce it themselves. It is also supplied to the body through food, and we find it primarily in protein-rich products:
• Meat: beef, pork, poultry,
• Fish,
• eggs,
• Milk and dairy products such as yogurt, cheese, curd,
• nuts ,
• seeds,
• Vegetables such as: beans, cabbage, cauliflower, kale .

People who require a low-protein diet for various health reasons can resort to a dietary supplement containing glycine.