Glycocyamine

Amino-acid

What is it

Glycocyamine (also known as guanidinoacetic acid or GAA) is the direct biosynthetic precursor of creatine. The body produces it from arginine and glycine and methylates it to creatine in the liver.

Evidence for 1 use

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Creatine loading

Good Evidence

Raises muscle creatine stores at comparable efficiency to creatine monohydrate; ergogenic effects follow.

How it works

Supplemental GAA bypasses the rate-limiting step of endogenous creatine synthesis (the kidney transamidination), and methylation in the liver converts it to creatine. Trials demonstrate efficient muscle creatine loading. GAA increases methylation demand, which can raise homocysteine; B vitamins or betaine are commonly co-supplemented.

Dosage

Studied doses are 1.2-2.4 g/day.

When and how to take it

Daily consistent intake; specific timing relative to training does not appear critical.

1 commercial form

Compare the main delivery options and what they’re best suited for.

Micronized GAA powder

Common in sport supplements.

Standard form; often combined with B vitamins.

Safety

Generally well tolerated when co-supplemented with methyl donors. Isolated long-term use raises homocysteine concerns. Long-term safety data are still emerging.

Who should be cautious

Pregnancy: avoid. Cardiovascular risk or elevated homocysteine: discuss with a clinician.

Interactions

Methylation-pathway interactions; cosupplementation with B vitamins and betaine recommended.

Frequently asked questions

Is GAA safe to take long-term?⌄

With methyl-donor co-supplementation, short- to medium-term use appears safe. Long-term data are still developing.

Can I just take creatine instead?⌄

Yes. Creatine monohydrate is well studied and may be more cost-effective.

References

Glycocyamine on Wikidata — Wikidata link

Glycocyamine (ChEBI:16344) — ChEBI link

Glycocyamine (PubChem CID 763) — PubChem link

Glycocyamine on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link

Research on Glycocyamine (PubMed search) — PubMed link

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.