What is gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)?
Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) is a neurotransmitter and a chemical messenger in the brain. It slows down your brain by blocking specific signals in the central nervous system (your brain and spinal cord).
GABA is known for its sedative effects. It is thought to play an important role in controlling the overactivity of nerve cells associated with anxiety, stress and fear.
Scientists also refer to GABA as a non-protein amino acid neurotransmitter.
How does gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) work?
GABA is the most common inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Inhibitory neurotransmitters prevent or block chemical messages and reduce stimulation of nerve cells in the brain.
Neurotransmitters generally all work in the same way. They are chemical messengers that carry messages from one nerve cell in the brain to the next. Between each nerve cell is a tiny, fluid-filled space called a synapse. The neurotransmitter must pass the message across this synapse, then land on a specific receptor on the next nerve cell and bind to it (like a key that only fits and works in its partner lock).
There are two types of GABA receptors on nerve cells: GABA-A and GABA-B. Although they work in different ways, when GABA binds to these receptors, the result is that they reduce the ability of nerve cells to respond. This means that, as an inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA reduces the ability of nerve cells to receive, create, or send chemical messages to other nerve cells.
What are the health benefits of GABA?
By slowing down certain brain functions, GABA is thought to:
- relieve pressure.
- Relieve anxiety.
- improve sleeping.
What is the relationship between GABA and glutamate?
GABA and glutamate are like "on" and "off" switches. They work in opposite ways. GABA is the brain's main inhibitory neurotransmitter, preventing chemical messages from being transmitted between nerve cells. Glutamate, on the other hand, is the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, allowing chemical messages to pass between nerve cells.
In order to have a properly functioning brain, a delicate balance must be maintained between the inhibitory effects of GABA and the excitatory effects of glutamate. GABA also works with another neurotransmitter, serotonin. In fact, many neurotransmitters work together or against each other and must maintain a certain relationship for the normal functioning of the body and brain.
GABA is actually made by reacting glutamate with glutamate decarboxylase.
What health conditions are associated with changes in GABA levels?
Certain neurological and mental health conditions are thought to be related to GABA signaling activity ("signaling") being imbalanced and not functioning properly. Reduced GABA activity may cause:
- Anxiety and mood disorders.
- Schizophrenia.
- Autism Spectrum Disorders.
- Depression.
- Epilepsy, seizures.
Other health conditions associated with GABA imbalance include:
- Pyridoxine deficiency. This is a rare disease in which people don't get the vitamins they need to make GABA. It often causes frequent seizures in infancy. Anticonvulsant medications do not successfully treat seizures, but vitamin supplementation does respond.
- Hepatic encephalopathy.
- Huntington's disease.
- Muscle dystonia and spasticity.
- Hypersomnia (excessive daytime sleepiness or sleeping for too long).
Are there health benefits to increasing GABA levels?
Researchers are still studying the effects of increased GABA levels. Although the evidence is unclear, GABA is being studied to see if it can help treat or prevent health problems, including:
- hypertension.
- Insomnia.
- diabetes.
Which drugs target GABA?
Many drugs have been developed that act on GABA receptors. These include:
- Benzodiazepines. Such drugs include diazepam (Valium®) and alprazolam (Xanax®), which act on GABA-A receptors. Benzodiazepines are used for surgical anesthesia, treatment of epilepsy, REM sleep disorder, alcohol withdrawal, anxiety, essential tremor, and muscle spasms.
- Barbiturates. These are sedative medications.
- Vigabatrin (Sabril®). This is a medicine used to treat seizures and spasms in infants.
- Flumazenil (Romazicon®). This medicine is used to treat benzodiazepine overdose. It is also used to improve the mental status of patients with hepatic encephalopathy.
- Valproic acid. This medication is a mood stabilizer and anti-seizure medication.
- Zolpidem (Ambien®, Edluar®). This is a sedative-hypnotic drug. It is used to treat insomnia.
- Gabapentin (Neurontin®, Gralise®, Horizant®). This medicine is used to treat seizures and nerve pain.
- Propofol (Diprivan®). This drug is a sedative used in general anesthesia.
- Baclofen (Lioresal®, Gablofen®). This medication is a muscle relaxant.
Are there any GABA supplements?
GABA is available as a dietary supplement. Manufacturers produce GABA supplements by fermenting a type of lactic acid bacteria.
However, most of them may not make it into your brain. (Technically, this is called "crossing the blood-brain barrier." The barrier is a unique membrane that only allows certain molecules to pass through it and come from your brain). Therefore, it's unclear what effects, if any, taking dietary GABA supplements may have on your brain. So far, there is insufficient evidence that GABA supplements produce all of the expected benefits.
How to Use GABA Supplements Some
People may take the supplement in pill form, while some may add it to food, such as a protein drink.
Manufacturers make varying recommendations for dosage. Anyone considering taking GABA supplements should consult their doctor first.
If a person experiences side effects after starting to take a GABA supplement, they should stop using the supplement and contact their doctor.
Does food contain GABA?
GABA is found in some fermented foods, such as:
- Pickle
- fermented fish
- Tempeh
- fermented buffalo milk
- fermented cassava
- fermented durian
- Zlatar cheese
- pioneer
- Mulberry beer
- Sake
- Yogurt sake
Other foods that scientists have found contain at least trace amounts of GABA include:
- Sprouted adzuki beans and soybeans
- pea
- wheat and barley
- Brown rice and red rice
- Ripe green tomatoes
- Cruciferous vegetables such as spinach, kale, and broccoli
- sweet potato
- mushroom
- chestnut
- white tea
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Trusted Source classifies GABA as a supplement and food additive "generally recognized as safe."
Manufacturers may add GABA to sports drinks and other foods.
Risks of Taking GABA
Whether you are using a supplement or taking a drug that mimics or is designed to enhance GABA, it is important to follow any instructions.
drug side effects
People who use drugs that mimic or are designed to enhance GABA should follow their doctor or pharmacist's instructions carefully.
Taking too much or mixing it with alcohol or opioids may cause central nervous system (CNS) depression. This causes the body to slow down, making it difficult to breathe. This can be life-threatening.
Learn more about the side effects of gabapentin here.
supplement side effects
Clinical studies show that taking up to 120 milligrams (mg) of GABA daily as a supplement for 12 weeks is less likely to cause adverse effects.
People should be careful when using it with other medications.
Using them with medicines to treat high blood pressure or epilepsy may increase the effects of these medicines.
People should always talk to their doctor before taking any supplements and make sure they know what medications they are taking.
The FDA does not regulate dietary supplements the same way it regulates drugs. People should be careful to only buy from reputable suppliers and companies.
generalize
The body naturally produces GABA, which helps promote sleep, relieve anxiety and protect the brain.
Drugs that mimic its effects have important uses in epilepsy treatment and pain management.
Some people take supplements, but scientists are still studying their possible benefits.
It is best to consult a doctor before using GABA supplements for any condition. They may recommend trying medically proven treatments first. If they support the use of GABA supplements, they will advise the person on how to take them safely.
