Biochemical synthesis

Glycocyamine is formed in the mammalian organism primarily in the kidneys by transferring the guanidine group of L-arginine by the enzyme L-Arg:Gly-amidinotransferase (AGAT) to the amino acid glycine. From L-arginine, ornithine is thus produced, which is metabolized in the urea cycle by carbamoylation to citrulline.

In a further step, glycocyamine is methylated to creatine with S-adenosyl methionine by the enzyme guanidinoacetate N-methyltransferase (GAMT). The creatine is released into the bloodstream.

Chemical synthesis

Guanidinoacetic acid was first prepared in 1861 by Adolph Strecker^[1] by reaction of cyanamide with glycine in aqueous solution:

Glycine can also be converted to glycocyamine with S-methylisothiourea^[2] or with O-alkylisoureas^[3] as a guanylation agent.

The recent patent literature describes the synthesis of glycocyamine by catalytic oxidation of ethanolamine to glycine and subsequent reaction with cyanamide in aqueous solution in high yield, analogous to the synthesis of creatine starting from 2-methylaminoethanol via sarcosine.^[4]

This synthetic route suppresses the formation of toxic dihydrotriazine and other undesired by-products (such as iminodiacetic acid).

As a supplement

A series of studies showed that a combination of betaine and glycocyamine improves the symptoms of patients with chronic illness, including heart disease, without toxicity. Betaine can provide a methyl group to glycocyamine, via methionine, for the formation of creatine.^[6] In overall, such treatment led to less fatigue, greater strength and endurance, and an improved sense of well-being. The patients with cardiac decompensation (arteriosclerosis or rheumatic disease)^[7] and congestive heart failure^[8] had improved cardiac function. The patients gained weight (improved nitrogen balance) and saw lessened symptoms of arthritis and asthma and increased libido, and those people suffering from hypertension experienced transient reduced blood pressure. Also the studies shows the increase of glucose tolerance in both diabetic subjects and subjects without diabetes.^[9]

As a feed additive

Guanidinoacetic acid is a nutritional feed additive approved by the European Commission for chickens for fattening, weaned piglets and pigs for fattening.^[10] It is supposed to lead with a "vegetarian diet" (meaning without feeding of animal protein) to higher feed conversion, higher weight gain and improved muscle increase already at a low dosage (600 g/to feed).^[11]

Possible benefits of glycocyamine supplementation can not yet be conclusively assessed, neither in other breeding, fattening and domestic animals nor for high-performance athletes, analogous to the glycocyamine metabolite creatine. The simultaneous intake of methyl providing substances such as betaine appears advisable because of the risk of homocysteine formation with glycocyamine alone.^[12]