Not medical advice

Supplement Hype reports the state of evidence and grades claims. It is not a substitute for a doctor or pharmacist and does not diagnose, treat, or cure anything. Read the full disclaimer →

Head to head

Glycine vs Valerian root

On the strength of human evidence, Glycine comes out ahead (evidence 48 vs 40). But they're often used for different things — read each claim before deciding.

Shared goals: Sleep

Glycine

Limited

the quiet, cheap sleep amino acid

Marketed
Evidence
Hype ≈ evidence

Marketing intensity 42 of 100. Evidence strength 48 of 100. Verdict: Hype ≈ evidence.

Under-marketed and reasonably promising for sleep. The longevity buzz, though, is built almost entirely on worms and mice.

Full evidence on Glycine →

Valerian root

Limited

the old-school sleep herb with shaky data

Marketed
Evidence
Slightly overhyped

Marketing intensity 58 of 100. Evidence strength 40 of 100. Verdict: Slightly overhyped.

People feel it helps them sleep, and meta-analyses pick up a subjective benefit - but it disappears on objective sleep measures, and the trials are messy.

Full evidence on Valerian root →

Side by side

Metric Glycine Valerian root
Overall tier Limited Limited
Evidence score 48/100 40/100
Hype score 42/100 58/100
Verdict Hype ≈ evidence Slightly overhyped
Safety concern low low

Quick answers

Glycine or Valerian root — which has better evidence?

On the strength of human evidence, Glycine comes out ahead (evidence 48 vs 40). But they're often used for different things — read each claim before deciding.

Can you take Glycine and Valerian root together?

This page compares the evidence, not interactions. Some supplements interact with each other or with medications — check each one's safety section and talk to a pharmacist before stacking.