Glycine as a conditionally essential amino acid and its relationship to l-serine

Glycine is a conditionally essential amino acid obtained from food and synthesized in the body, primarily from l-serine. Glycine deficiency has been reported due to inadequate protein intake, malnutrition, late gestation, diabetes, insulin resistance, and increased exposure to xenobiotics. Because of the close links in glycine and l-serine metabolism mediated by serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT), decreased concentrations of both amino acids coincide in most glycine-deficient states. The consequence is a widespread impact on metabolism, including altered synthesis of glutathione, collagen, nucleotides, and one‑carbon units, impaired antioxidant defense, cytoprotection, conjugation, and neurotransmission and increased levels of homocysteine and deoxysphingolipids. It can, therefore, be assumed that, rather than glycine alone, its coadministration with l-serine is more appropriate in glycine-deficient conditions. Replacing a part of the glycine with l-serine should avoid (i) glycine flux through SHMT towards l-serine associated with the loss of methylenetetrahydrofolate, a substance essential for methylation reactions, and (ii) ammonia formation due to glycine flux through the glycine cleavage system. Unfortunately, studies comparing the effects of separate administration of glycine and its coadministration with l-serine do not exist. Well-controlled studies in subjects without glycine deficit are required to examine the potential benefits of high doses of glycine as a pharmaconutrient.