Glycine's Sleep-Promoting Effects: NMDA Receptor Mechanisms in the Brain
How Does Glycine Promote Sleep Through Brain NMDA Receptors?
Glycine promotes sleep and facilitates body temperature reduction through its action on NMDA receptors in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the brain’s master circadian clock, this research demonstrates. The study reveals that glycine acts as a co-agonist at NMDA receptors in the SCN, modulating the activity of neurons that control both circadian timing and thermoregulation. When glycine binds to these receptors, it enhances the natural evening decline in core body temperature that’s essential for sleep onset, while also influencing circadian phase timing. This mechanism explains why glycine supplementation can improve sleep quality and reduce sleep onset time—it works through the brain’s fundamental sleep and circadian control systems rather than simply acting as a sedative.