Glycinol enhances osteogenic differentiation and attenuates the effects of age on mesenchymal stem cells, it could as a potential preventive or treatment for osteoporosis. Glycinol also has antidiuretic activity.

Phytoestrogens, such as Glycinol, have recently gained significant attention as an alternative therapy for osteoporosis due to their structural similarity to estradiol and their bone-generating potential. METHODS AND RESULTS: The osteogenic effects of Glycinol were investigated in human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) derived from older (>50 years old) and younger subjects (<25 years old). BMSCs isolated from older donors demonstrated reduced osteogenesis. 17β-estradiol and Glycinol exposure rescued the age-related reduction in osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. These results correlated with the induction of osteogenic genes and estrogen receptor-α (ER-α) following Glycinol treatment. ER antagonist studies further support that Glycinol promotes osteogenesis through ER signaling. CONCLUSIONS: The results from these studies support investigating Glycinol as a potential preventive or treatment for osteoporosis.