Glycine vs L-theanine
On Reddit, owners rate L-theanine higher overall (4.0 vs 3.0). Scores summarize self-reported experiences and are not evidence that either will work for you.
| Glycine | L-theanine | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | powder or capsules | capsules |
| CalmVerdict score | 3.0 | 4.0 |
| Owner sentiment | 3.2 | 3.5 |
| Recommendations | 1.0 | 4.8 |
| Tolerability | 4.0 | 4.4 |
| Owner comments | 77 | 330 |
| Rated comments | 42 | 196 |
| Unwanted effects reported | 19% | 14% |
| Top praise | Calming effect, Dose & timing | Calming effect, Dose & timing |
| Top complaints | Side effects, Calming effect | Side effects, Calming effect |
By concern
| Context | Glycine | L-theanine |
|---|---|---|
| Anxiety & worry | 5 of 19 positive | 35 of 71 positive |
| Low mood | 3 of 16 positive | 13 of 30 positive |
| Everyday stress | 4 of 11 positive | 25 of 52 positive |
| Panic attacks | 0 of 3 positive | 11 of 20 positive |
| Rumination & intrusive thoughts | 1 of 7 positive | 2 of 4 positive |
| Physical tension | Too few comments | 3 of 7 positive |
See how L-theanine, GABA and glycine compare. For quick shortlists by concern, see which calm supplements Reddit owners rate highest. For the full picture, see our stress and anxiety supplement ratings built from Reddit owner comments.
What owners say about Glycine
5/5 Taste & form“Glycine is what I swear by. One teaspoon with green tea in the morning and one before sleep. I took it primarily for collagen but with time noticed the effect of calmness, it is now harder for me to become agitated and stressed.”
2/5 Side effects“i experience a paradoxical effect to glycine, it gives me extreme anxiety & insomnia.”
3/5 MoodSide effects“I've also had some very weird reactions to iron bisglycinate that are pretty confounding considering the amount of glycine in that is \*extremely\* low compared to the amounts we get in food.”
What owners say about L-theanine
2/5 Calming effect“Theanine, because I had tried it for evening calm and it didn't do anything for me.”
4/5 Calming effectTaste & form“The I found a liquid L theanine and that made all the difference in the world.”
4/5 Calming effectFalling asleep“l-theanine is the only one that's worked for me.”
More detail: L-theanine side effects · L-theanine dosage and timing
Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before switching or combining supplements, particularly if you take other medicines.