Glycine represents around 11.5 % of the total amino acids in humans and roughly 20 % of the nitrogen from amino acids in proteins. However, glycine is not essential because it can be synthesised from other chemicals including choline, glyoxylate and the amino acid threonine. Glycine is used by the body for a number of functions and the wide variety of its uses means that the body has a high requirement to synthesise it. For example glycine is required for the formation of collagen, where it forms every third residue in the triple helical structure. Glycine is also required for the formation of the cellular antioxidant glutathione. The energy system of the body relies on glycine because it is needed for the synthesis of creatine, which forms the high energy creatine phosphate compound in cells. Purine in the form of DNA and RNA both require glycine, as does the oxygen carrying compound haem. Another highly important function of glycine is the formation of bile acids, which are pivotal in the digestion and absorption of lipids.
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