An independent guide to glycine + NAC A PROTOCOL N°1 FIELD GUIDE ↗
GlyNAC.BY PROTOCOL N°1

TWO INGREDIENTS. AN OPEN BOOK.

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GlyNAC.

Understand GlyNAC in plain English, see the research, and decide if it fits your goals.

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01 / GLYCINE+02 / N-ACETYLCYSTEINE
Illustrative still life of glass vessels, fine white powder and capsules in natural light
THE GLYNAC FIELD GUIDE VOL. 001
✳
Two precursors.
Your body does the making.
INGREDIENT STILL LIFE · ILLUSTRATIVE

01 — START WITH THE BAYLOR STUDY

Why GlyNAC has
researchers interested.

In Baylor’s small 16-week trial, the GlyNAC group improved glutathione, walking speed and grip strength. Here’s what the researchers tested.

PLACEBO-CONTROLLEDKUMAR ET AL. · 2023
24older adults randomized
16weeks of supplementation

What changed in the controlled study.

In this 16-week trial of adults aged 61–80, the GlyNAC group improved muscle glutathione, walking speed and grip strength.

Comparison groups
12 older adults on GlyNAC, 12 on placebo; 12 younger adults supplied a baseline reference and took GlyNAC for two weeks.
Tested regimen
100 mg/kg/day each of glycine and NAC for 16 weeks in the older GlyNAC group.
THE CONTEXT

Small, selected groups and many measurements: these findings do not establish a benefit for everyone or longer human lifespan.

Read the original paper ↗

The wider picture: a separate, larger two-week trial did not improve its main blood-glutathione measure. Differences in participants, duration and protocol matter. These studies do not establish the effectiveness of a retail product.

ONE MEASUREMENT AT A TIME

What changed—and what does it mean?

Read short explanations of glutathione, oxidative stress, inflammation and physical function, with the actual comparison groups.

Explore the measurements ↗
↗ Human research, linked+ Study amounts vs. labels◌ Limitations, included↔ Human & animal evidence, separated

02 — THE IDEA

Give the process
its building blocks.

Glutathione helps cells manage oxidative stress. GlyNAC combines glycine with a source of cysteine—two of the building blocks used to make it.

+→

Glycine is an amino acid and one of the three components of glutathione. The combination with NAC is what these GlyNAC studies tested.

Simplified pathway. Glutamate is the third component; individual responses vary.

03 — THE AMOUNTS

The dose is part
of the evidence.

A capsule, a serving and a full day can mean different amounts. Compare glycine and NAC separately, using the actual directions.

Three ways to read the amounts: a weight-based research protocol, fixed trial benchmarks, and actual bottle directions. These are comparisons, not three recommended plans.

TIER 1 · HUMAN GLYNAC TRIAL

Primary Baylor
trial protocol

100 mg/kg/day each of glycine and NAC, studied for 16 weeks in selected adults aged 61–80.

70 kg
7.0 g glycine + 7.0 g NACper day · research arithmetic11.7 × 600 mg NAC capsulesamount equivalent for NAC alone

The slider illustrates the published formula. Fractional capsule equivalents are math, not directions to take or divide capsules. This trial did not determine a minimum or optimal dose.

Baylor trial ↗

TIER 2 · HUMAN DOSE-RANGING TRIAL

Fixed moderate-dose
trial benchmarks

1.2 g + 1.2 g2.4 g + 2.4 g3.6 g + 3.6 g

Glycine + NAC per day, split morning/evening in the separate Lizzo et al. 2022 study. 117 older adults were randomized; 114 completed two weeks.

The primary whole-blood glutathione outcome did not significantly improve. These are tested amounts, not a ranking of effective doses.

Why highlight 2.4 g?

It was the middle amount of each ingredient in Lizzo’s trial. In a different, NAC-only lupus pilot, all nine active recipients at 2.4 g/day completed treatment; the 4.8 g/day tier had three intolerance cases, including GI symptoms and headaches. That does not establish a universal mTOR threshold or a GlyNAC safety ceiling.

Read the lupus study context ↗
Lizzo trial ↗

TIER 3 · PRODUCT-SPECIFIC LABELS

Typical commercial
capsule directions

Checked examples, not an estimate of what is typical across the market. Canadian NPN directions vary by product.

AOR NAC · NPN 80005832 ↗
500 mg × 1 capsule/day = 500 mg/day
New Roots NAC · NPN 80107262 ↗
600 mg × 1 capsule twice/day = 1,200 mg/day
NOW Canada glycine · NPN 80054272 ↗
1,000 mg × 1 capsule/day = 1 g/day

NOW’s US glycine label ↗ instead lists 1–3 g/day. Country-specific directions matter. Check the current bottle; these examples are not selected recommendations.

Format affects convenience: gram amounts can mean many capsules. Glycine powder can reduce capsule count; compare the measured grams, ingredients, testing information and cost per gram. Explore ingredient formats ↗

EACH INGREDIENT, PER DAY

Baylor trial · 70 kg example100 mg/kg/day of each ingredient
7,000 mg
Youth & Earth · label directionsTwo capsules daily · 500 mg of each
500 mg

14×The trial example supplies fourteen times this selected product’s labelled daily amount of each ingredient.

Compare eight actual product labelsDaily directions, separate ingredient amounts, and source notes
Selected manufacturer pages checked October 11, 2026. Amounts describe label directions, not recommendations.
Product / original labelSuggested useGlycineNACSource note
WeBotanix · GlyNAC Formula ↗2 capsules daily500 mg500 mgAmounts follow the two-capsule table and directions; the advertised bottle duration conflicts.
Youth & Earth · GLYNAC ↗2 capsules daily500 mg500 mgAmounts come from the detailed two-capsule composition.
SuperSmart · GlyNAC ↗2 capsules daily600 mg600 mgUS-facing product page; 300 mg of each per capsule.
Purovitalis · GlyNAC Clarity ↗2 capsules daily on current product page600 mg600 mgProduct page says two daily; a help article instead says one. Directions disagree.
vitalityPRO · GlyNAC ↗2-3 capsules daily700–1,050 mg700–1,050 mgRange reflects two to three capsules; this is not Vitality Supplements.
Utzy Naturals · GlyNAC+ ↗3 capsules daily1,000 mg1,000 mgAdditional vitamin B2 is not counted here.
BioStack · GlyNAC+ ↗6 capsules on use days; cycle 5 days on and 2 off3,000 mg1,200 mgUse-day amounts only: five days on, two off. Additional ingredients excluded.
Pure Encapsulations · NAC + Glycine Powder ↗1 scoop daily1,800 mg1,800 mgUS directions. Canadian directions and availability are unverified.

This small convenience sample includes US, UK and European pages. It does not establish what is typical in the market, ingredient potency, Canadian authorization, shipping eligibility or efficacy. Other ingredients are excluded from these amounts. Label directions can change; check the current bottle before relying on them. Products here are examples, not selected recommendations or affiliate endorsements.

Download the comparison data ↓

RESEARCH QUESTION · BEYOND GLUTATHIONE

CoA, fuel use
and mTORC1.

Could cysteine metabolism help explain some GlyNAC findings? Human trials and fly experiments offer different pieces of that question.

Follow the mechanism and its evidence ↗
HUMAN GLYNAC FINDING

Baylor’s small aging trial reported increased mitochondrial fatty-acid oxidation.

PRECLINICAL MECHANISM · FLIES

Cysteine supplied CoA and altered TCA carbon flow, helping keep TORC1 suppressed during fasting.

HUMAN CONNECTION · HYPOTHESIS

Whether oral GlyNAC produces that CoA-to-mTOR effect in older people remains to be tested.

04 — ANIMAL RESEARCH

Promising findings.
Different evidence.

Mice can help researchers explore biological questions. Their results need their own context before we ask what might translate to people.

Explore the animal studies ↗

05 — BUILD YOUR SHORTLIST

Simple ingredients.
Considered choices.

GlyNAC describes a combination of two ingredients.
Compare each on its own terms.

INGREDIENT 01POWDER FORMAT

Glycine powder

A straightforward way to compare glycine by the gram. Look at ingredient purity, serving size, testing information and value.

  • Check the amount per serving
  • Compare cost per gram
INGREDIENT 02CAPSULE OR POWDER

N-acetylcysteine

The cysteine source in GlyNAC. Compare formats and label amounts carefully; a retail serving is not automatically a study dose.

  • Check the label and added ingredients
  • Review suitability with a pharmacist
BEFORE YOU BUY

The studies used specific formulations and protocols. The comparison describes research and labels; it does not select a dose for you. Discuss suitability and medication interactions with your doctor or pharmacist.

06 — THE STANDARD

The truth is
interesting enough.

MICHAEL
PROJECT CREATOR

“GlyNAC is the one I keep coming back to—super underrated, in my opinion.”

This started with personal curiosity about supplements. The standard is simple: make the research readable, show the limitations, and let people make a more informed choice.

01

The original paper is one click away.
Clear sources, with study design and context.

02

The inconvenient result belongs here too.
A less positive study is part of the story.

03

How this earns money stays visible.
Retailer affiliate commission is one model under consideration. Current preview links are standard searches and earn no commission.

07 — GOOD QUESTIONS

A little more
clarity.

Still curious? Start with the
original research ↑

What exactly is GlyNAC?+

GlyNAC is the combination of glycine and N-acetylcysteine (NAC). They supply precursors used in glutathione synthesis. GlyNAC describes this combination of ingredients; formulations and serving amounts vary between products.

Do the studies prove it works for everyone?+

No. Findings come from specific groups, including older adults, and study designs and durations differ. Small samples, limited independent replication and a less positive randomized trial leave important questions open.

How much should I take?+

This guide doesn’t recommend a personal dose. Study protocols and retail serving sizes can differ substantially. Bring the product label and the research to your doctor or pharmacist to discuss whether it is suitable for you.

Is it safe to combine with medication?+

That needs an individual assessment. Supplements can have side effects and interact with medication. A pharmacist or clinician can review your medicines, health history and the exact product before you start.

How do the retailer links work?+

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What is Protocol N°1?+

Protocol N°1 is the umbrella concept behind this independent guide: supplements explored through human research, with sources and limitations in plain sight. GlyNAC is the first field guide.

Keep up with the guide.

Get research updates ↑

KNOW WHAT YOU’RE CHOOSING.

A better starting point
begins with the evidence.

Take another look ↑
YOUR RESEARCH, TOGETHER

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