Glycine is a nonessential amino acid. It is the only amino acid that does not form an L or D optical rotation. Glycine is the simplest amino acid and is found in the protein of all life forms.

Glycine is used in the pharmaceutical field as a component of drugs for dermatological use, specifically for eczema and dermatitis. In nutrition, glycine is used as a component for parenteral and enteral nutrition. Glycine is of major importance in the synthesis of proteins, peptides, purines, nucleic acids and other amino acids. Glycine is also a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. It is believed that glycine may be a novel antioxidant.

Glycine is manufactured by chemical synthesis from formaldehyde or monochloroacetic acid and ammonia. Glycine is manufactured under cGMP conditions.