While neurons produce it naturally, a GABA supplement can help you experience the many benefits of GABA. Without getting too scientific, GABA is an important chemical within the human brain. It is an inhibitory neurotransmitter, and as such it serves the brain by regulating the firing of neurons.
Without gamma-aminobutyric acid, your muscles would be constantly tense, your mind would never stop racing, and your overall ability to function would be severely impaired. GABA supplements can be taken to increase this valuable resource in your body.
GABA or gamma-aminobutyric acid, discovered in 1950, is the most important and widespread inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. Excitation in the brain must be balanced with inhibition. Too much excitation can lead to restlessness, irritability, insomnia, and even seizures. GABA is able to induce relaxation, analgesia, and sleep. Barbiturates and benzodiazepines are known to stimulate GABA receptors, and hence induce relaxation. Several neurological disorders, such as epilepsy, sleep disorders, and Parkinson’s disease are affected by this neurotransmitter. This neurotransmitter is made in the brain from the amino acid glutamate with the aid of vitamin B6.
The best information I have on clinical use comes from the writing of Eric Braverman and Carl Pfeiffer in their 1987 book on the clinical use of amino acids.
If oral GABA reaches the brain in any significant amount it should act as a tranquilizer. GABA as a neurotransmitter, blocks nerve impulses and slows neuronal transmission. It should make you feel the opposite of a double espresso.
Braverman and Pfeiffer write an anecdotal account of the successful treatment of a forty year old woman suffering from anxiety with 800 mg of GABA a day. They also gave her an undisclosed amount of inositol which we now know is an effective anxiolytic used in treating obsessive compulsive disorder. Was it the GABA or the inositol that helped this patient? Perhaps the combination.
Though this anecdote is inconclusive, using GABA to treat anxiety is the most common and reasonable use.
Will the brain adapt to supplemental GABA? There are no answers to this as no one has proven GABA reaches the brain. Looking at the brain's capacity to change GABA receptor response and its tendency to build up tolerance to drugs which modify GABA, it is possible that a tolerance to oral GABA might develop and withdrawal symptoms might occur. None are reported in the literature to my knowledge.
There is a well proven tendency for depressed and bipolar patients to have lower levels of GABA in their blood plasma. These low levels are thought to reflect lower brain levels. Both Braverman, Pfeifer and Robert Atkins in their books suggest using GABA to treat depression. The theory is that oral GABA will bring up plasma levels. Unfortunately this theory is too simplistic and possibly dangerous.
The current theory of GABA and depression is that low plasma levels of GABA may identify an inheritable tendency for mood disorders such as depression or bipolar disease. Today's view is that things which increase GABA in these people may trigger a depressive episode. It isn't until time or treatment restores GABA to its former low level that these people feel better. This information suggests a situation that is far more complex than what was once thought and certainly argues for caution in using GABA in patients with depressive or bipolar disorders. Will excess GABA from oral supplementation stimulate a depressive episode in susceptible patients? There is no data to answer this question. Until proven safe, GABA should be used with caution in this population.
Again recall the biochemistry, GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter.
Women who become depressed with hormonal changes during their menstrual cycle have lower plasma GABA levels than women whose moods are unaffected by menstrual changes. Dr. Atkins suggests that GABA supplementation will “lift spirits.”
The study Dr Atkins cites in support of his suggestion suggests that it is this same inheritable tendency for low GABA levels that underlie their depressive tendencies and their premenstrual depression. More recent research suggests a more complicated interaction between sex hormones and GABA in the brain. In healthy women, brain GABA activity decreases through the menstrual cycle, especially the luteal phase. In women with premenstrual depression, brain GABA activity actually increases during the luteal phase. Giving GABA to women with premenstrual depression may aggravate their problem and drop their spirits.
Braverman and Pfeifer suggest that 2-4 grams of GABA may stimulate insulin production and lower blood sugar levels. This idea is supported by the newer Human Growth Hormone studies which also see an increase in insulin levels with oral GABA.
Even though GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is a substance found naturally in the human body, it may cause side effects. People often assume that dietary supplements are always safe and free of problems. However, this is simply not the case. It is reasonable to assume that any product with the capability for medicinal properties may also have side effects.
Only a few side effects have been reported with GABA supplements. It is quite possible that this simply reflects the fact that GABA supplementation has been studied very little in humans; it may not necessarily indicate that the product is truly unlikely to cause side effects.
The few reported side effects of GABA (which was administered by IV, not by mouth) include:
An unexplained, unpleasant feeling (dysphoria)
Increased blood pressure
Increased heart rate.
You may experience some or none of the GABA side effects discussed in this article. Make sure to let your healthcare provider know if you develop any problems while taking the supplement, or if you experience something that "just does not seem right." While it may not be a side effect, your healthcare provider will be able to diagnose and treat the problem.
Gabaaaaaaaaa August 20, 2006, By Liz Naber From Oregon
Very calming after a stressful day at work and it helps me relax so sleep is a breeze. ...
August 11, 2008, From Texas
As an addition to sleep assistance, this product has helped me get back to sleep on nights when I was unable to get back to sleep on my own devices. Again Thank you
Great Product January 01, 2010, From Indiana
I prefer the powder to the tablets as the tablets can be somewhat hard to swallow due to their size. For me, I use GABA with Vit. B6, Niacin, and Inositol. I find this works well to take a chunk out of my anxiety. …
Very calming for my system. May 22, 2010, By Kathleen Conner From Colorado
I also relaxed my body entire body, which was chronically tense. We use 1/4 tsp, 3 times/day on empty stomach. ...
Gaba Powder February 26, 2010, By Brenda Jacob From Great Britain
This is a good product to assist in relaxing, especially at bedtime when the mind is still very active - it helps to still the mind. Easy to take with a little water.
helps me sleep July 17, 2009, From Florida
GABA relaxes me before bedtime and helps me sleep better.
Perhaps helpful but weird "side effect" March 19, 2009, From Washington
This product claims to inhibit neuro-transmitters. I was hoping to slow down my thoughts, keep them from racing. I think this product may be helpful for sleeping when the problem stems from too much thinking. HOWEVER, I have taken it during the day and started to notice that I could not remember even simple words that normally are available. So I no longer take this during the day and will only take it when needed - not on a regular basis. It is a large container and so I will most likely not be buying it again for a long, long time.
Help me sleep better September 26, 2011, From Singapore
Gaba helps me, my family and friends to sleep better...
Calm? April 06, 2010, From Finland
Does calm you down a little bit, after little notsogood feeling. Sleep is deeper.. my stomach didnt like it very much. But anyway ++++ , not a wonder product, but worth tryin if u r gettin' nervous at nights...