Ingredient profile: 7 amino acid lines
Glyco Defender Amino Acids: L-Carnitine, GABA, L-Tryptophan and Four More
Glyco Defender amino acids are seven small blend lines: L-glutamine, L-tyrosine, L-arginine, beta alanine, GABA, L-tryptophan and L-carnitine. They sit 14th to 21st in a 15.47 mg blend, so each holds about 1.1 mg or less per dropper. Research on these nutrients used grams a day, roughly a thousand times more.
Written by the Glyco Defender label deskUpdated
The seven lines01
What are the Glyco Defender amino acids?
The Glyco Defender amino acids are seven nutrients at the tail of the blend list. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, and the body makes or gets most of them from food.
A licorice compound sits among them in 18th place, so the amino run covers places 14 to 21 minus one. Each ceiling below is 15.47 divided by the place number (21 CFR 101.36 (eCFR)).
| Amino acid | Place | Most per dropper | Amount used in research |
|---|---|---|---|
| L-glutamine | 14 | 1.1 mg | Up to about 45 g a day (NIH ODS, Exercise & Athletic Performance) |
| L-tyrosine | 15 | 1.0 mg | No verified source |
| L-arginine | 16 | 0.97 mg | 2-20 g a day (NIH ODS, Exercise & Athletic Performance) |
| Beta alanine | 17 | 0.91 mg | 1.6-6.4 g a day (NIH ODS, Exercise & Athletic Performance) |
| GABA | 19 | 0.81 mg | No verified source |
| L-tryptophan | 20 | 0.77 mg | No blood sugar dose |
| L-carnitine HCl | 21 | 0.74 mg | 2-3 g a day in type 2 studies (NIH ODS, Carnitine) |
L-carnitine02
Does L-carnitine help blood sugar?
L-carnitine showed some improvement in fasting glucose in type 2 diabetes studies, but those used about 2-3 g a day, and NIH says larger trials are needed (NIH ODS, Carnitine).
Glyco Defender lists L-carnitine last, so one dropper holds 0.74 mg or less. A 2 g study dose is about 2,700 times that. Healthy people also make their own carnitine and generally do not need more.
L-tryptophan03
Is L-tryptophan safe with antidepressants?
Not without medical advice. L-tryptophan should not be combined with MAO inhibitors, tramadol or other serotonin-raising drugs and supplements unless a clinician agrees (Drugs.com, L-tryptophan).
It also has history. In 1989 tainted L-tryptophan from one maker was tied to an outbreak of eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome that affected more than 1,500 people (NORD, Eosinophilia-Myalgia Syndrome). Glyco Defender holds 0.77 mg or less, and its maker is not named.
GABA and L-tyrosine04
What do GABA and L-tyrosine add to Glyco Defender?
GABA and L-tyrosine add nothing we can verify. We found no reliable dose or safety source for either as a supplement, so their profiles below say "Not established".
GABA is a calming messenger in the brain, and L-tyrosine is a protein building block. At about 0.81 mg and 1.0 mg at most, ask a doctor first if you take thyroid medicine or an MAOI.
Glyco Defender: from $49 a bottle30 mL · 1, 3 or 6 bottles · free US shipping on 6 · 60-day money-back guarantee
See packsSports amino acids05
Are arginine, glutamine and beta alanine at sports doses?
No. Sports studies used grams: arginine 2-20 g, beta alanine 1.6-6.4 g and glutamine up to about 45 g a day (NIH ODS, Exercise & Athletic Performance). Glyco Defender holds about 1 mg of each.
Arginine can lower blood pressure (MSKCC, Arginine), and beta alanine causes harmless tingling only at 800 mg or more. Neither effect is likely at 1 mg.
Safety06
Who should ask before taking the amino acid blend?
Anyone on an antidepressant, blood pressure medicine or thyroid medicine should show a pharmacist the label first. Lows with diabetes drugs are covered in supplements and diabetes medicines.
Note the label bars use under 18 and during pregnancy or nursing.
Never drop or change a prescription for a supplement. Bring the bottle to your next visit.
Label profiles07
What does the label show for each amino acid?
Each profile repeats one label line. Each figure is a label-order ceiling, not a lab value.
See the full ingredient list.
| Name on the label | L-glutamine |
|---|---|
| What it is | Amino acid |
| Place on the label | 14 of 21 in the 15.47 mg proprietary blend |
| Amount per mL (1 dropper) | Not listed; #14 of 21 in the 15.47 mg blend, so at most 1.10 mg per mL |
| Amount used in research | Up to about 45 g a day (sports studies) |
| Strength of evidence | Not supported for performance |
| Marketed or traditional use | Amino acid |
| Main caution | Generally well tolerated in studied doses. |
| Name on the label | L-Tyrosine |
|---|---|
| What it is | Amino acid |
| Place on the label | 15 of 21 in the 15.47 mg proprietary blend |
| Amount per mL (1 dropper) | Not listed; #15 of 21 in the 15.47 mg blend, so at most 1.03 mg per mL |
| Amount used in research | No verified dose source |
| Strength of evidence | Not established |
| Marketed or traditional use | Amino acid |
| Main caution | No verified safety source found; ask your doctor if you take thyroid or MAOI drugs. |
| Name on the label | L-Arginine |
|---|---|
| What it is | Amino acid |
| Place on the label | 16 of 21 in the 15.47 mg proprietary blend |
| Amount per mL (1 dropper) | Not listed; #16 of 21 in the 15.47 mg blend, so at most 0.97 mg per mL |
| Amount used in research | 2-20 g a day (sports studies) |
| Strength of evidence | Little or no performance benefit |
| Marketed or traditional use | Amino acid |
| Main caution | Can lower blood pressure. |
| Name on the label | Beta Alanine |
|---|---|
| What it is | Amino acid |
| Place on the label | 17 of 21 in the 15.47 mg proprietary blend |
| Amount per mL (1 dropper) | Not listed; #17 of 21 in the 15.47 mg blend, so at most 0.91 mg per mL |
| Amount used in research | 1.6-6.4 g a day |
| Strength of evidence | Mixed (exercise only) |
| Marketed or traditional use | Amino acid |
| Main caution | Harmless tingling at 800 mg or more, far above anything here. |
| Name on the label | GABA (Gamma Aminobutyric Acid) |
|---|---|
| What it is | Amino acid |
| Place on the label | 19 of 21 in the 15.47 mg proprietary blend |
| Amount per mL (1 dropper) | Not listed; #19 of 21 in the 15.47 mg blend, so at most 0.81 mg per mL |
| Amount used in research | No verified dose source |
| Strength of evidence | Not established |
| Marketed or traditional use | Amino acid |
| Main caution | No verified safety source found. |
| Name on the label | L-Tryptophan |
|---|---|
| What it is | Amino acid |
| Place on the label | 20 of 21 in the 15.47 mg proprietary blend |
| Amount per mL (1 dropper) | Not listed; #20 of 21 in the 15.47 mg blend, so at most 0.77 mg per mL |
| Amount used in research | No blood sugar dose established |
| Strength of evidence | Not established |
| Marketed or traditional use | Amino acid |
| Main caution | Do not combine with MAOIs or other serotonin drugs without advice. |
| Name on the label | L-Carnitine HCl |
|---|---|
| What it is | A derivative of an amino acid |
| Place on the label | 21 of 21 in the 15.47 mg proprietary blend |
| Amount per mL (1 dropper) | Not listed; #21 of 21 in the 15.47 mg blend, so at most 0.74 mg per mL |
| Amount used in research | 2-3 g a day (type 2 diabetes studies) |
| Strength of evidence | Some glucose improvement; more trials needed |
| Marketed or traditional use | Fat metabolism |
| Main caution | Fishy odor and stomach upset at about 3 g. |
FAQ08
Amino acid questions
How much L-carnitine is in Glyco Defender?
At most 0.74 mg per dropper. L-carnitine is the 21st and last blend line, so it cannot exceed an even share of 15.47 mg. Type 2 diabetes studies used about 2-3 g a day (NIH ODS, Carnitine), so the dropper gives a tiny fraction.
Does the GABA in Glyco Defender help sleep?
No study of the drops measured sleep. GABA sits 19th, at 0.81 mg or less, and we found no verified dose or safety source for GABA as a supplement. Caffeine from guarana and green tea could matter more for sleep, so a morning dropper is the safer habit.
Why does Glyco Defender contain L-tryptophan?
The label does not say why. L-tryptophan is the 20th blend line, at 0.77 mg or less. It should not be combined with MAO inhibitors or other serotonin drugs without a clinician's advice (Drugs.com, L-tryptophan). The amount is tiny, but the rule still applies.
Are Glyco Defender amino acids vegan?
The label does not say whether the amino acids come from plant, animal or fermented sources. If that matters to you, ask the distributor named on the label, at [email protected], before you buy. We have no answer on file.
Can amino acids in Glyco Defender raise blood pressure?
Not that we know of. Arginine tends to lower blood pressure slightly at gram doses (MSKCC, Arginine). The licorice compound in 18th place is the line linked to higher blood pressure (NCCIH, Licorice Root), so people with high blood pressure should ask first.
Will beta alanine in Glyco Defender cause tingling?
Very unlikely. Tingling shows up at single doses of 800 mg or more (NIH ODS, Exercise & Athletic Performance). Glyco Defender holds 0.91 mg or less of beta alanine, under one eight-hundredth of that.
Who wrote this09
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . See our editorial standards and the way we check reviews. This website is run by a USA Authorized Glyco Defender Retailer, not by the manufacturer or the distributor. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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