Outcome
    Limited
    Effectiveness 2/5

    Glycine for Growth Hormone Support

    Large oral glycine doses were shown decades ago to raise growth hormone acutely, but no trial has linked this to any change in body composition or recovery.

    Overview

    Large oral glycine doses were shown decades ago to raise growth hormone acutely, but no trial has linked this to any change in body composition or recovery.

    Verdict

    Insufficient evidence

    Old spike data, no modern outcome evidence.

    How It Works

    Glycine acts on NMDA and glycine receptors influencing hypothalamic GH-releasing hormone output, and separately improves subjective sleep quality by lowering core body temperature.

    Dosing & Protocol

    Typical dose

    Recommended dose
    Not established; the one relevant study used 6.75 g oral glycine and found a transient growth hormone rise with no functional benefit
    Expected timeframe
    Acute; 2-4 weeks for sleep

    Protocol

    dose
    3 g for sleep
    form
    Glycine powder
    timing
    Before bed
    duration
    2-4 weeks

    Evidence

    What the studies say

    Small mid-century studies reported GH increases after 6.75-30 g of oral glycine. Contemporary trials focus on glycine for sleep quality, where 3 g before bed improves subjective sleep measures. GH-related outcome data is effectively absent.

    No studies are yet linked to both Glycine and Growth Hormone Support.

    Safety

    Caveats

    Doses used in the GH studies were far larger than typical sleep doses and are not well tolerated. Sleep benefit is the more defensible reason to take it.

    Less likely to help if

    Everyone: no functional benefit has been demonstrated from glycine-induced growth hormone changes.

    Medical Disclaimer

    The information provided on this website is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or before starting any supplement regimen.

    Individual results may vary. The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products and information are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.