Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)

What is GABA?

Ailments treated by GABA, properties of GABA

Nutrients which help your body make GABA

Foods which provide or assist GABA

GABA dosage

Possible GABA side effects

GABA for special needs children

GABA warnings

References

What is GABA?

GABA is the main neurotransmitter inhibitor in mammal central nervous systems. Put simply, it keeps brain activity from going berserk.

GABA is also produced by the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, where it plays a role in insulin sensitivity.

GABA is a non-essential amino acid. This means that it is not essential that we get it from our food because we can make it in our own mammalian bodies.

GABA was first synthesized in 1883, and in 1950 it was confirmed as an integral part of the mammalian central nervous system. It has become a popular supplement for a variety of conditions, especially for anxiety and racing thoughts. Its principal role is reducing neuronal excitability throughout the nervous system.

GABA is sold as a dietary supplement in many countries. Scientists used to think that GABA taken as a supplement did not cross the blood-brain barrier, (1) but research now shows that this is not true. (2)

Those who take GABA as a supplement claim that it improves mental focus and calms mania, panic, and racing mood swings along with treating many ailments, which are listed below.

Ailments treated by GABA, properties of GABA

• Adrenal fatigue.
• Anger.
• Anxiety.
• Autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. (7, 8, 9, 10)
• Body building, muscle gain.
• Concentration and focus.
• Diabetes and metabolic syndrome management. (4, 7)
• Epilepsy.
• Exercise and sports performance. Increases endurance and the building of lean muscle.
• Fibromyalgia.
• Human growth hormone (HGH) production assisted by GABA.
• Hypothyroidism. (3)
• Inflammation. (5, 6)
• Insomnia. The first time you take GABA for insomnia, be aware that you may have a hard time getting up the next morning!
• Menopause problems.
• Nerve problems like neuropathic pain.
• Pre-menstrual syndrome.
• PTSD.
• Restless leg syndrome.
• Tinnitus.
• Tremors.

Nutrients which help your body make GABA

• Vitamin B6.
• Glutamic acid (not to be confused with monosodium glutamate, which is a toxin.)
• Taurine.
• Zinc.

Foods which provide or assist GABA

Foods high in glutamic acid include:

almonds, barley grain, brown rice (only very fresh), chicken, citrus, eggs, kefir, meat (only grass-fed), oats, peanut butter, potatoes, seaweeds, walnuts, wheat and yogurt (sour).

Fermented foods like sauerkraut, kefir, and kombucha also help make GABA.

GABA dosage

Recommendations for GABA supplements vary from 500-1000 mg between one to three times per day. Every supplier seems to have different dosage recommendations, and some also add complementary nutrients such as vitamin B6, l-theanine or taurine. Therefore it is recommended to take GABA under the advice of your health practitioner, especially if you are pregnant, breast feeding or giving the supplement to children.

If you purchase GABA as a bulk powder it is cheaper and does not have the fillers used in the pill and capsule forms, and you can adjust the dosage exactly to suit your needs.

Normally take GABA on an empty stomach with water.

Possible GABA side effects

When starting any new supplement, start small and slowly increase the dose over the first couple of days, so that you can monitor its effects.

• Flushing, similar to a niacin flush, or tingling in the face, neck or tongue.
• Nausea.
• Headache.
• Heart beat increase or higher blood pressure.
• Panic attacks (but it helps with most people).
• Sleepiness. GABA may make you drowsy, so avoid taking it before driving or using equipment until you know how it works in your body.
• Sweating.
• Vivid dreams.
• Vomiting.

GABA for special needs children

Parents are using GABA with children who suffer from autism, attention deficit disorder, Tourette's syndrome and obsessive compulsive disorder. Some pharmaceutical drugs prescribed for mental health work by improving GABA activity. These parents figure that a more natural approach is GABA producing foods or GABA supplements. If taking a GABA supplement, it is best to have a qualified health practitioner working with the parent and child because GABA is often used in conjunction with other supplements to maximize the particular child's health and potential.

GABA warnings

• GABA may not be suitable for people with bi-polar disorder or depression. A supplement that calms down an already depressed system is probably not helpful.
• Pregnant and nursing mothers should speak to their doctor, healthcare provider or lactation consultant before taking GABA supplements.

Your comments about any of your experiences - positive or negative - with your use of GABA are welcome at Grow Youthful. I am always curious about your use of and experience with natural remedies, and your feedback is very welcome.

References

1. Kuriyama K, Sze PY. Blood-brain barrier to H3-v-aminobutyric acid in normal and amino oxyacetic acid-treated animals. Neuropharmacology, January 1971. 10 (1): 103-108. doi:10.1016/0028-3908(71)90013-X. PMID 5569303.

2. Boonstra E, de Kleijn R, Colzato LS, Alkemade A, Forstmann BU, Nieuwenhuis S. Neurotransmitters as food supplements: the effects of GABA on brain and behavior. Front Psychol, 2015. 6: 1520. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01520. PMC 4594160. PMID 26500584.

3. Yang H, Xing R, Liu S, Yu H, Li P (2016). Gamma-Aminobutyric acid ameliorates fluoride-induced hypothyroidism in male Kunming mice. Life Sciences. 146: 1-7. doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2015.12.041. PMID 26724496.

4. Ben-Othman N, Vieira A, Courtney M, Record F, Gjernes E, Avolio F, Hadzic B, Druelle N, Napolitano T, Navarro-Sanz S, Silvano S, Al-Hasani K, Pfeifer A, Lacas-Gervais S, Leuckx G, Marroqui L, Thevenet J, Madsen OD, Eizirik DL, Heimberg H, Kerr-Conte J, Pattou F, Mansouri A, Collombat P. Long-Term GABA Administration Induces Alpha Cell-Mediated Beta-like Cell Neogenesis. Cell, 2017. 168 (1-2): 73-85.e11. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2016.11.002. PMID 27916274.

5. Tian J, Chau C, Hales TG, Kaufman DL. GABA-A receptors mediate inhibition of T cell responses. J. Neuroimmunol, 1999. 96 (1): 21-8. doi:10.1016/s0165-5728(98)00264-1. PMID 10227421. S2CID 3006821.

6. Mendu SK, Bhandage A, Jin Z, Birnir B. Different subtypes of GABA-A receptors are expressed in human, mouse and rat T lymphocytes. PLOS ONE, 2012. 7 (8): e42959. Bibcode:2012PLoSO...742959M. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0042959. PMC 3424250. PMID 22927941.

7. Soltani N, Qiu H, Aleksic M, Glinka Y, Zhao F, Liu R, Li Y, Zhang N, Chakrabarti R, Ng T, Jin T, Zhang H, Lu WY, Feng ZP, Prud'homme GJ, Wang Q. GABA exerts protective and regenerative effects on islet beta cells and reverses diabetes. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci, 2011. U.S.A. 108 (28): 11692-7. Bibcode:2011PNAS.10811692S. doi:10.1073/pnas.1102715108. PMC 3136292. PMID 21709230.

8. Tian J, Chau C, Hales TG, Kaufman DL. GABA-A receptors mediate inhibition of T cell responses. J. Neuroimmunol, 1999. 96 (1): 21-8. doi:10.1016/s0165-5728(98)00264-1. PMID 10227421. S2CID 3006821.

9. Tian J, Lu Y, Zhang H, Chau CH, Dang HN, Kaufman DL. Gamma-aminobutyric acid inhibits T cell autoimmunity and the development of inflammatory responses in a mouse type 1 diabetes model. J. Immunol, 2004. 173 (8): 5298-304. doi:10.4049/jimmunol.173.8.5298. PMID 15470076.

10. Tian J, Yong J, Dang H, Kaufman DL. Oral GABA treatment downregulates inflammatory responses in a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis. Autoimmunity, 2011. 44 (6): 465-70. doi:10.3109/08916934.2011.571223. PMC 5787624. PMID 21604972.