title: Glycine metabolism in skeletal muscle: implications for metabolic homeostasis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The review summarizes the recent literature on the role of glycine in skeletal muscle during times of stress.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Supplemental glycine protects muscle mass and function under pathological conditions. In addition, mitochondrial dysfunction in skeletal muscle leads to increased cellular serine and glycine production and activation of NADPH-generating pathways and glutathione metabolism. These studies highlight how glycine availability modulates cellular homeostasis and redox status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recent studies demonstrate that supplemental glycine effectively protects muscles in a variety of wasting models, including cancer cachexia, sepsis, and reduced caloric intake. The underlying mechanisms responsible for the effects of glycine remain unclear but likely involve receptor-mediated responses and modulation of intracellular metabolism. Future research to understand these mechanisms will provide insight into glycine's therapeutic potential. Our view is that glycine holds considerable promise for improving health by protecting muscles during different wasting conditions.
authors.affiliation: Basic and Clinical Myology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Koopman
authors.forename: Marissa K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Caldow
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Ham
authors.forename: Gordon S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Lynch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005998:Glycine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D051379:Mice; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism*; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018009:Receptors, Glycine / Q000502:physiology; D019282:Wasting Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D018009:Receptors, Glycine; D005998:Glycine