I found this article while researching Glycine and Magnessium for sleep. I thought it may be useful to someone. ..(thanks Kuya for your advised on taking D3 for sleep. Very Helpful as i am very low on D vitamins. I started taking D3 at your advise, it worked but i was getting some tingling and headaches. I read that it needed to be taken with Magnessium if you experience this symptoms. I started taking Magnessium Oxide with it and my sleep is simply wonderful. I found out that Magnesium Glycirate was better for more than just sleep but for a whole slew of mental health issues from sleep, depression, addiction...etc. I ran into this article and iam sharing.
Glycine is critically involved in regulating ethanol (alcohol) consumption.[13] Elevating concentrations of glycine in the signalling junction between neurons has consistently been demonstrated to reduce alcohol intake,[13] and inhibit drug-seeking for cocaine and amphetamines.[14, 15] The mechanism of these effects is still poorly understood, but evidence suggests that increased glycine levels also attenuate the effects of amphetamines on the brain.[14]
To date, medicine has focused on blocking drug effects in order to treat and manage the physiology of addictions. The fact that glycine helps both attenuate the effects of drugs like alcohol, cocaine, and amphetamines, and to decrease the drive to consume these substances is very exciting. It’s so exciting, in fact, that a series of pharmaceutical drugs are currently being tested to modulate glycine uptake, in order to effectively increase the amount of glycine in the brain in therapeutic applications.[16] Human trials have not yet reported their results for most of these medications, but we do know that simply supplementing with oral glycine will have similar effects![3]
We can utilize oral glycine to decrease the urge to consume drugs and alcohol (both in addicts and among moderate users),[17] and to help block the effects when the drugs are consumed. But glycine doesn’t stop there! Supplementing with oral glycine can improve behavioural training to overcome addictions and prevent relapse (extinction training).[14, 18, 19] It’s unclear whether these improvements are related to improved memory recall, such that recovering addicts are able to remember and employ their cognitive behavioural techniques.[20] We do know, however, that changes to glycine levels in the brain correspond with improved attention, memory, impulsivity, emotional memory, and intellectual learning memory.[21] These traits are all negatively impacted with addiction, so a treatment protocol with potential “side effects” that help normalize behaviour-related changes opens a world of possibilities.
Glycine’s therapeutic uses to treat addictions go yet a step further. There is evidence that supplemental glycine helps reduce liver toxicity from chronic alcohol consumption and expedites recovery from alcohol-induced liver injury.[22]
Risks of oral glycine supplementation, even at therapeutic levels, are negligible. And so, for a vast number of reasons and applications, this little amino acid packs a big punch in addiction-recovery protocols.
Glycine is critically involved in regulating ethanol (alcohol) consumption.[13] Elevating concentrations of glycine in the signalling junction between neurons has consistently been demonstrated to reduce alcohol intake,[13] and inhibit drug-seeking for cocaine and amphetamines.[14, 15] The mechanism of these effects is still poorly understood, but evidence suggests that increased glycine levels also attenuate the effects of amphetamines on the brain.[14]
To date, medicine has focused on blocking drug effects in order to treat and manage the physiology of addictions. The fact that glycine helps both attenuate the effects of drugs like alcohol, cocaine, and amphetamines, and to decrease the drive to consume these substances is very exciting. It’s so exciting, in fact, that a series of pharmaceutical drugs are currently being tested to modulate glycine uptake, in order to effectively increase the amount of glycine in the brain in therapeutic applications.[16] Human trials have not yet reported their results for most of these medications, but we do know that simply supplementing with oral glycine will have similar effects![3]
We can utilize oral glycine to decrease the urge to consume drugs and alcohol (both in addicts and among moderate users),[17] and to help block the effects when the drugs are consumed. But glycine doesn’t stop there! Supplementing with oral glycine can improve behavioural training to overcome addictions and prevent relapse (extinction training).[14, 18, 19] It’s unclear whether these improvements are related to improved memory recall, such that recovering addicts are able to remember and employ their cognitive behavioural techniques.[20] We do know, however, that changes to glycine levels in the brain correspond with improved attention, memory, impulsivity, emotional memory, and intellectual learning memory.[21] These traits are all negatively impacted with addiction, so a treatment protocol with potential “side effects” that help normalize behaviour-related changes opens a world of possibilities.
Glycine’s therapeutic uses to treat addictions go yet a step further. There is evidence that supplemental glycine helps reduce liver toxicity from chronic alcohol consumption and expedites recovery from alcohol-induced liver injury.[22]
Risks of oral glycine supplementation, even at therapeutic levels, are negligible. And so, for a vast number of reasons and applications, this little amino acid packs a big punch in addiction-recovery protocols.
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