Glycine for Sleep and Longevity
Guideline Position on Sleep Treatments
- The American Academy of Sleep Medicine's 2017 clinical practice guidelines did not include glycine among recommended or evaluated agents for chronic insomnia treatment 1, 2
- The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends eszopiclone, doxepin, suvorexant, temazepam, and zolpidem as evidence-based pharmacological options for sleep disorders 2, 3
- L-tryptophan is not recommended for treating insomnia due to insufficient clinical benefit, showing only a 10-minute reduction in wake after sleep onset 1, 2
Evidence-Based Sleep Recommendations
- The American College of Physicians recommends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) as first-line treatment for sleep improvement 5, 6, 7
- The American Diabetes Association recommends establishing consistent bedtime and wake time, creating an optimal sleep environment, and implementing pre-sleep routines to improve sleep quality 5, 8
- Evidence-based pharmacological options for sleep improvement include eszopiclone 2-3 mg, doxepin 3-6 mg, and zolpidem 10 mg 2, 3, 4
Sleep and Metabolic Health Context
- Sleep quality directly impacts health outcomes, with both short and long sleep durations negatively impacting hemoglobin A1C in people with diabetes 8
- Sleep disturbances interfere with glucose management and increase cardiovascular morbidity 5, 8
- Poor sleep accelerates cognitive decline, particularly in older adults with type 2 diabetes 5