Timing Protocol
When to Take Glycine — Expert Timing Protocols
Expert-analyzed timing recommendations for glycine based on what 5 longevity researchers say about when, how, and what to take it with.
Quick Timing Guide
Before bed for sleep benefits — glycine helps lower core body temperature to facilitate sleep onset (Attia, Huberman, Hyman). Johnson takes glycine in the morning as part of his longevity supplement drink. For collagen synthesis benefits, timing is flexible but some evidence suggests taking with vitamin C may enhance absorption (Patrick).
Strong Consensus
on Glycine overall
Full Protocol
Timing
Before bed for sleep benefits — glycine helps lower core body temperature to facilitate sleep onset (Attia, Huberman, Hyman). Johnson takes glycine in the morning as part of his longevity supplement drink. For collagen synthesis benefits, timing is flexible but some evidence suggests taking with vitamin C may enhance absorption (Patrick).
Dosage
1-3g before bed for sleep support (Huberman, Attia, Hyman). Johnson includes glycine as part of his daily Blueprint longevity mix at clinically relevant doses. Higher amounts (up to 5g) can be obtained through collagen peptide supplementation for connective tissue support (Patrick, Attia).
Form
Glycine powder is the most common and cost-effective form — it dissolves easily in water and has a mildly sweet taste. Collagen peptides (hydrolyzed collagen) are an alternative delivery method that provide glycine alongside proline and hydroxyproline for connective tissue benefits (Patrick, Attia). Capsules are available but powder is preferred for flexible dosing.
Notes
Glycine is generally very well tolerated with no significant side effects at typical supplemental doses. It has a naturally sweet taste and can be mixed into water or tea. For glutathione support, glycine works synergistically with NAC (N-acetyl cysteine), which provides the cysteine precursor. Collagen peptides provide approximately 20-25% glycine by weight and offer additional amino acids beneficial for connective tissue.
Expert Positions
What Each Expert Says About Timing
Huberman discusses glycine in his Sleep Toolkit episode as an optional sleep supplement that can assist with falling back asleep after middle-of-night awakenings. He places glycine alongside GABA and myo-inositol as secondary additions to his foundational sleep stack of magnesium threonate (145mg), apigenin (50mg), and theanine (100-400mg). While he does not dedicate extensive coverage to glycine specifically, his inclusion of it in his most comprehensive sleep protocol episode signals recognition of its value for sleep quality.
Unlock the Full Picture
Go beyond the consensus — see exactly what each expert says about glycine.
- Per-expert timing protocols & reasoning
- Interaction warnings & disagreements
- Video citations with timestamps