Tier 4 — mechanistic

The association of genetically determined serum glycine with cardiovascular risk in East Asians

Chang X, Wang L, Guan SP, Kennedy BK, Liu J, Khor CC, Low AF, Chan MY, Yuan JM, Koh WP, Friedlander Y, Dorajoo R, Heng CK
Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases : NMCD 2021 31(6):1840-1844

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 33992511
PubMed Central
PMC10442847
DOI
10.1016/j.numecd.2021.03.010
Funding
Indexed support: NCI NIH HHS; National Research Foundation Singapore; National Institutes of Health; National Medical Research Council. See the publication for grant and funder details.
Competing interests
The accessible abstract does not establish the authors' competing interests; absence of a statement is not evidence of no conflicts.

Study snapshot

DesignHuman genetic association and Mendelian-randomization analyses
ModelAdult humans
SampleSingaporean Chinese datasets: CAD 711 cases/1,246 controls; cardiovascular death 1,886/21,707; angiographic severity n=1,138
InterventionGWAS and genetically predicted serum glycine analyses
DurationGenetic epidemiology; no dosing period
EndpointsIncident coronary artery disease; Cardiovascular death; Angiographic CAD severity

What the study showed, in plain terms

This East Asian genetic analysis suggested a protective relationship between glycine and coronary disease. It expands ancestry coverage but does not resolve disagreement across genetic studies.

Key findings

  • The study examined incident disease, cardiovascular death and angiographic severity in separate datasets.
  • The authors interpreted the results as supporting a possible protective role.

What this study can and cannot tell us

Findings depend on instruments, ancestry and the particular endpoints.

Genetically higher lifelong glycine is not equivalent to starting an oral supplement.

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Biswas S et al. · Nutrients · 2025
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Oral administration of glycine in the prevention of restenosis after coronary angioplasty. A double blind placebo controlled randomized feasibility trial evaluating safety and efficacy of glycine in the prevention of restenosis after angioplasty
Khan M et al. · Acute cardiac care · 2006
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Assessing the causal association of glycine with risk of cardio-metabolic diseases
Wittemans LBL et al. · Nature communications · 2019
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Genetic Determinants of Circulating Glycine Levels and Risk of Coronary Artery Disease
Jia Q et al. · Journal of the American Heart Association · 2019
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Dziedzic M et al. · Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979) · 2024

Editorial review

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Dr. Khaled Mahmoud, MBBChCritical Care Medicine, Longevity Science & Editorial Direction