Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition North America, Inc.

Newsroom

Get the Rest You Deserve: A Glycine Supplement Can Help You Enjoy Deeper, Healthier Sleep

A person with curly hair is lying on their side, asleep in bed, covered with a white blanket and resting their head on a white pillow.

Some people wake up feeling refreshed and energetic. Others still feel tired after many hours of sleep. Why is that? The truth is, how well you sleep is just as important as how long you sleep.

During the night, you cycle through stages of light sleep and deep sleep. The deepest is called slow-wave sleep. During this stage, the body secretes growth hormones to heal itself. But various factors, including stress and irregular sleep schedules, can get in the way of healthy sleep cycles.

Deep sleep is vital because your metabolism slows down, letting the brain and body get some needed rest. When you’re enjoying good-quality sleep, the temperature of your hands and feet goes up. By radiating heat, they help lower your core body temperature and metabolism.

Does Glycine Help You Sleep?

Research by the Ajinomoto Group has shown that the amino acid glycine, taken before bedtime, helps the body reach deep sleep more quickly. It also helps raise the surface temperature of the feet and reduce the temperature of the core body. People wake up feeling refreshed, without the drowsiness some sleep remedies can cause.

Glycine is produced naturally by the body and present in many healthy foods, including fish, meat, and beans. But getting an adequate amount isn’t easy. That’s why Ajinomoto Group has developed a range of glycine supplements to help people enjoy better sleep and enhance their health.

Further study is required to better understand the relationship between amino acids and sleep. Ajinomoto Group will tirelessly pursue this challenge to help you get the rest you deserve. When you lie down at the end of a long day, the last thing you need is cold feet!

Glycine FAQs

  • What is glycine?
    Glycine is a simple amino acid that serves as a building block for proteins. Glycine supplements act as neurotransmitters that have a calming effect on the central nervous system. Glycine is naturally produced in the human body and can be found in protein-rich foods such as meat, fish, and dairy.
  • Does glycine help you sleep?
    Yes. Studies show that glycine improves sleep quality.
  • How does glycine improve sleep quality?
    Glycine helps lower your core body temperature by increasing blood flow to the hands and feet. This drop in internal temperature is a biological signal to your brain that tells it that it’s time for deep, restorative sleep.
  • How long does it take glycine to work for sleep?
    Most people experience the cooling effect within 30-60 minutes after taking a glycine supplement. Next day alertness is typical after consistent use.
  • Will taking glycine make me feel groggy in the morning?
    No, it won’t. That’s because, unlike sedative sleep aids, a glycine supplement supports your body’s natural sleep rhythms. Studies have shown that those using glycine report a reduction in daytime sleepiness and improved cognitive performance after using it the night before.
  • What is the recommended dosage of glycine for sleep benefits?
    Clinical trials have shown that a dose of 3 grams is typically effective for promoting improved sleep quality while reducing the time it takes to fall asleep.
  • Is glycine good for you?
    Yes, it’s considered safe and offers several benefits in addition to improved sleep quality. Glycine is a major component of collagen which helps with joint health and skin elasticity. It helps your metabolism by aiding the body in producing glutathione, an antioxidant that protects cells from damage. And because it improves sleep quality, it indirectly boosts daytime focus and memory.

Glycine benefits are numerous and it might just be a safer, gentler way for you to get the rest you need and deserve.

Related Articles

Check out other similar articles from Ajinomoto.

Explore the Newsroom

Discover How Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition Can Transform Your Business

Get access to industry experts, better ingredients, and innovative solutions.

Speak with an Expert