Glycine 1000mg | Sleep Quality, Collagen Synthesis, and Cognitive Support

Key Benefits

• Supports sleep quality and helps maintain healthy sleep onset and sleep depth
• Supports collagen synthesis and helps maintain healthy connective tissue, skin, and joint integrity
• Supports cognitive function and helps maintain mental clarity and focus
• Helps maintain a healthy inflammatory response throughout the body
• Supports healthy neurotransmitter balance as both an inhibitory neurotransmitter and a co agonist at NMDA receptors
• Supports protein synthesis as a fundamental non essential amino acid used across multiple biosynthetic pathways
• 1000mg pure glycine per capsule, a clinically meaningful dose
• 120 vegan capsules per bottle, up to a 4 month supply at one capsule per day

What This Is

This is a pure glycine supplement providing 1000mg of free form glycine per capsule, the simplest and most abundant non essential amino acid in the human body. Glycine plays a uniquely versatile role in human physiology, functioning simultaneously as a structural amino acid (the most abundant amino acid in collagen), an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, a co agonist at NMDA glutamate receptors, and a precursor to glutathione, creatine, heme, and bile acids. Despite being classified as non essential, glycine is considered conditionally essential because the body's endogenous synthesis is often insufficient to meet physiological demand, particularly during periods of increased collagen turnover, oxidative stress, or metabolic demand. Health Canada licensed and manufactured in Canada to GMP standards.

The Science

What Is Glycine?

Glycine (aminoacetic acid) is the smallest and simplest of the 20 standard amino acids and a non essential amino acid, meaning the body can synthesize it endogenously. It is the most abundant amino acid in collagen (comprising approximately 33% of all amino acids in collagen), the most abundant protein in the human body. Glycine is synthesized endogenously from serine, threonine, choline, and hydroxyproline, but research suggests that endogenous synthesis provides only approximately 2 to 3 grams per day, while total physiological demand may be as high as 10 to 15 grams per day, creating a significant glycine gap that dietary and supplemental glycine can help address.

Glycine and Protein Synthesis

As a non essential amino acid, glycine participates directly in protein synthesis as a building block for structural and functional proteins throughout the body. Glycine is particularly critical for the synthesis of collagen, the most abundant protein in the human body, where it occupies every third position in the collagen triple helix (the repeating Gly X Y sequence). Beyond collagen, glycine is a precursor for creatine synthesis (alongside arginine and methionine), making it relevant for workout supplement applications where creatine supports muscle energy metabolism and physical performance. Glycine also contributes to the synthesis of glutathione, heme, purines, and bile acids, making it one of the most metabolically versatile amino acids in human biochemistry.

Glycine as a Workout Supplement

Glycine supports workout recovery and physical performance through multiple pathways. As a precursor to creatine, glycine contributes to the body's creatine pool, which supports ATP regeneration in muscle tissue during high intensity exercise. As the primary amino acid in collagen, glycine supports the synthesis and repair of connective tissue including tendons, ligaments, and cartilage that are stressed during training. Glycine also supports sleep quality, and adequate sleep is one of the most important factors in workout recovery, muscle protein synthesis, and physical adaptation to training. For athletes and active individuals, glycine supplementation supports both the structural and recovery dimensions of physical performance.

Glycine and Sleep Quality

Glycine is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the spinal cord and brainstem, and research on glycine supplementation has demonstrated its ability to support sleep quality through multiple mechanisms. Glycine lowers core body temperature by promoting peripheral vasodilation, a key physiological signal for sleep onset. It also modulates neurotransmitter activity in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (the brain's circadian clock), supporting healthy sleep architecture. Clinical research on glycine supplementation (typically 3 grams taken before bed) demonstrates improvements in subjective sleep quality, reduced time to sleep onset, and improved next day cognitive performance and alertness without sedation or grogginess.

Glycine and Collagen Synthesis

Glycine is the most abundant amino acid in collagen, comprising every third amino acid in the collagen triple helix structure. Collagen is the primary structural protein in skin, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, bone, and blood vessels, and adequate glycine availability is essential for collagen synthesis and maintenance. Research suggests that the body's endogenous glycine synthesis is insufficient to fully support collagen production at optimal rates, making dietary and supplemental glycine an important contributor to collagen synthesis, skin integrity, joint health, and connective tissue maintenance.

Glycine and Cognitive Function

Glycine functions as both an inhibitory neurotransmitter (via glycine receptors in the spinal cord and brainstem) and as a co agonist at NMDA (N methyl D aspartate) glutamate receptors in the brain. NMDA receptor activity is essential for synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory consolidation. By supporting healthy NMDA receptor function, glycine contributes to cognitive processes including learning, memory, and mental clarity.

Glycine as a Glutathione Precursor

Glycine is one of three amino acids (along with glutamate and cysteine) required for the synthesis of glutathione, the body's primary endogenous antioxidant. Glycine availability is often the rate limiting factor in glutathione synthesis, particularly in older adults. By supporting glutathione synthesis, glycine supplementation contributes to the body's antioxidant defence capacity and helps maintain cellular protection against oxidative stress.

Ingredients

Medicinal Ingredient (per capsule)

• Glycine (free form amino acid) 1000mg Non essential amino acid | Supports protein synthesis, sleep quality, collagen synthesis, cognitive function, healthy inflammatory response, and glutathione synthesis

Non Medicinal Ingredients

Vegetable capsule (hypromellose), microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate (vegetable source). No artificial colours, flavours, sweeteners, or preservatives.

Quality and Trust

• NPN 80139967 Licensed by Health Canada as a Natural Health Product
• Made in Canada GMP certified facility under Health Canada oversight
• Independently tested Purity and potency verified by a third party laboratory
• 1000mg pure glycine per capsule Free form non essential amino acid for optimal absorption
• Supports protein synthesis and workout recovery Via creatine precursor and collagen synthesis pathways
• Vegan capsules Hypromellose shell, no gelatin or animal derived ingredients
• Non GMO Free from genetically modified organisms
• Gluten free Suitable for those with gluten sensitivities
• 120 capsules Up to a 4 month supply at one capsule per day

Who This Product Is For

• Adults seeking sleep quality support from a non sedating, non habit forming amino acid
• Active individuals and athletes looking for a workout supplement that supports connective tissue repair, creatine synthesis, and recovery
• Those looking to support collagen synthesis, skin integrity, and joint connective tissue health
• Individuals wanting cognitive function and mental clarity support from a fundamental neurotransmitter amino acid
• Those seeking glutathione precursor support for antioxidant defence
• Health conscious consumers who prioritize Health Canada licensed, GMP manufactured products

How to Use

Take 1 to 3 capsules daily, or as directed by a healthcare practitioner. For sleep quality support, take 3 capsules (3000mg) 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime. For general collagen, protein synthesis, and cognitive support, take 1 to 2 capsules daily with or without food. For workout recovery support, take 1 to 3 capsules post workout or before bed. For best results, use consistently as part of a daily wellness routine.

Safety and Cautions

Glycine is generally well tolerated at supplemental doses. Consult a healthcare practitioner before use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have kidney disease, or are taking medications that affect NMDA receptor activity including certain antipsychotic or antiepileptic medications.

• Keep out of reach of children
• Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and moisture
• Do not use if the seal is broken or missing

NPN 80139967. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. All health claims are consistent with Health Canada's Natural Health Products Regulations.