Glycine

Glycine is a non-essential amino acid that has been shown to have various protective effects on the body. Long-term intrathecal administration of glycine prevents mechanical hyperalgesia in a rat model of neuropathic pain 1. Glycine also potentiates the action of some anticonvulsant drugs in some seizure models 1. Furthermore, glycine-gated channels in neutrophils attenuate calcium influx, which may contribute to its anti-inflammatory effects 1.

Glycine has been found to exert several protective effects, including anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and direct cytoprotective actions 2. It acts on inflammatory cells such as macrophages to suppress activation of transcription factors and the formation of free radicals and inflammatory cytokines 2. Glycine also appears to activate a chloride channel that stabilizes or hyperpolarizes the plasma membrane potential, suppressing the opening of calcium channels and the resulting increases in intracellular calcium ions 2.

Glycine is considered the main anti-inflammatory amino acid, and it can normally be made in adequate amounts 3. However, some proteins, especially muscle meats, may not have enough glycine in relation to tryptophan, which can lead to a decrease in glycine production 3. Glycine has been shown to be beneficial in treating diabetic kidney damage, as it can regulate metabolic reprogramming in the kidneys and upregulate glycine metabolism 4.