L-Glycine

Single-ingredient L-glycine reference formula with 1,000 mg per serving, developed as a powder, with a capsule option.

L-Glycine is a reference formula for brands building a single-ingredient amino acid product at a default amount of 1,000 mg of glycine per serving. Glycine is the only active, so the development work centers on a sweet-tasting, freely soluble amino acid in a powder, and on the capsule count needed to carry a gram-level dose.

Powder is the lead format because glycine dissolves readily and has a mildly sweet taste, with a capsule version at 500 mg per capsule for brands that sell a counted-unit product. The reference labels range from 250 mg to 4,300 mg per serving, so the amount is a brand decision set around the default.

Ingredient Composition

IngredientPer ServingRaw Material FormAlternative Form (same amount of active)
L-Glycine1000 mg (default amount)Glycine, free-form amino acid powder (C2H5NO2, 75.07 g/mol PubChem); specification 1,000 mg per serving, purity and particle size set with the supplierGlycine from a collagen peptide source, which supplies far less glycine per gram and changes the format

Amounts are stated as mg of glycine as the free amino acid. Glycine has no stereoisomers, so the “L-” in the page name follows the label convention, and no salt or hydrate conversion applies.

Intended Benefits & Formula Rationale

This formula is designed for products positioned around evening relaxation nutrition. Glycine is included as the single active so that the amount, the sweetness and the excipient system can be set without interaction with other actives.

Intended Benefit DirectionKey IngredientsFormulation Rationale
Sleep-related nutritionL-GlycineA scoping review of 22 trials reported that glycine-containing supplements generally increased circulating glycine concentrations, and that all 3 trials of supplemental glycine reported a benefit on at least one sleep-related outcome [1]. Evidence: Referenced
Daytime comfort nutritionL-GlycineA study in partially sleep-restricted healthy volunteers reported that glycine produced a significant reduction in fatigue and a significant improvement in a psychomotor vigilance test the next day [2]. Evidence: Referenced

The amounts and designs of the studies in [1] and [2] differ, so amount, claims and target market for a finished product are brand decisions reviewed for each sales market.

Available Formats

The glycine reference formula is built for a powder version and a capsule version; counts per serving are design choices that the brand can adjust.

FormatUnitPer ServingPack SizeOther Ingredients (typical)Suitability
Powder1 stick pack1000 mg30 stick packs or a 300 g tubFlow agent, optional flavorLead format; dissolves in water
Capsule2 capsules1000 mg (500 mg per capsule)90 or 180 capsulesFlow agent, vegetable capsule shellCounted-unit format; a gram-level dose takes two capsules

Raw Material Input & Fill (Design Estimate)

Design estimates. The input is the labeled glycine weight at an assumed 100% assay of the powder as purchased, so each unit uses the glycine weight shown below; the real input follows the certificate of analysis.

FormatRaw Material Input per UnitDesign FillBalance for ExcipientsVerification Before Scale-Up
Powder1000 mg glycine1100 mg per stick100 mgFlow, fill weight variation, moisture pickup, dissolution
Capsule500 mg glycine540 mg per capsule40 mgPowder density, fill weight variation, flow

Tablet and liquid versions are separate projects, because a gram-level dose needs a large tablet, and a stable glycine solution needs its own preservation work.

Formulation Considerations

Gram-level dose in a capsule. A 1,000 mg serving is two capsules at 500 mg, and a larger count is needed above that. The capsule count is the main limit of the capsule format and is why powder leads.
Sweet, soluble powder. Glycine tastes mildly sweet and dissolves freely, so a plain powder needs little flavor, while an unflavored product has a sweetness that the brand may want to balance. Glycine powder is also hygroscopic enough to cake in humid storage, so packaging and an anti-caking agent are set early.
Raw material purity. Glycine is made by synthesis, so the specification names the grade, the assay and the limits for related substances, and the source of the raw material is qualified before development.
Evidence and tier. The scoping review in [1] covers trials with different glycine amounts and designs, and [2] studied acute sleep restriction. Dose limit and label wording are reviewed per market, ahead of any product development.

Customization Options

Brands adjust the glycine amount, the format and the add-ons.

ParameterRangeNote
Glycine per serving500, 1000, 2000 or 3000 mgExamples for the brand; unit count or stick size follows the amount
FormatPowder or capsuleTablet and liquid are separate projects
Pack size30 to 180 unitsSet by the brand
Add-onsMagnesium, L-theanineMagnesium adds fill weight and a salty taste in powders, and L-theanine adds a second amino acid with its own dose

The pilot run confirms flow and fill weight, moisture pickup in the powder, and the glycine assay of the first units against the specification.

Flavor Options

FormatSuggested FlavorsWhy
PowderUnflavored, lemon, mixed berryGlycine is already sweet, so light citrus and berry profiles add freshness

Technical Status & Data Sources

ItemStatusDetails
Reference formulaNIH DSLDThe ingredient and amount come from a labeled product in the NIH DSLD (1000 mg on the label of CF005713; example DSLD labels 34526, 50838, 72075). The label names the ingredient as l-glycine; free-form glycine powder is set as the form.
SpecificationSet in formulationGlycine, 1,000 mg per serving; assay, related substances, heavy-metal limits and method are fixed with the supplier. Unit size, fill weight and stability are set in formulation.
Data sourceNIH DSLDDSLD v9.4.0, downloaded 2026-01-10: 50,824 reference formulas merged from on-market labels with complete ingredient amounts. Counts show how labels are distributed.
Market reviewPer marketDose limits, labeling and claims are reviewed for each sales market before a finished product is developed.
ReferencesSources[1] Fan Z, Nelson JM, Wallace TC. Glycine bioavailability and sleep-related outcomes following oral glycine and collagen supplementation: a scoping review. J Diet Suppl. 2026;23(5):602-622. DOI · PubMed<br>[2] Bannai M, Kawai N, Ono K, Nakahara K, Murakami N. The effects of glycine on subjective daytime performance in partially sleep-restricted healthy volunteers. Front Neurol. 2012;3:61. DOI · PubMed

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