GABA Deficiency Symptoms, Causes and Treatments

Developing a GABA deficiency may cause negative effects on health, including anxiety and sleep disturbances. GABA is also known as gamma-aminobutyric acid.

It is a neuroamine; a substance which accommodates neurotransmission in the brain. In humans, GABA is the strongest nerve depressant or inhibitory neurotransmitter. It modulates the sedative and depressive actions that occur inside the brain and is crucial for relaxation and regulating excitement.

GABA deficiencies are rare, but can be very serious when experienced. Gamma-butyric acid is an amino acid. Unlike most aminos, it is not preferred for purposes of protein synthesis. Rather, it is mostly used in the brain.

GABA performs a variety of activities which are closely related to the functioning of the parasympathetic nervous system.

GABA

GABAergic Supplement

Mood

Sleep

Body- building

How It Works:

• Anxiolytic effects to reduce stress
• May improve sleep & anxiety
• Supports fat loss & increases HGH

Dosage:

Between 250 - 1500 mg per day

Safety:

Rated Likely Safe

Top GABA Products* ❯

View User Ratings* ❯

Where Does GABA Come From?

Gamma-butyric acid is synthesized from glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter, via glutamate decarboxylase, an enzyme.

Alternately, GABA can be converted to glutamate via the actions of the tricarboxylic acid cycle.

Systemic and brain concentrations of GABA are related. When one is altered, the other will be altered as well.

It has a unique capacity to block its own transport across the blood-brain barrier.

GABA can self-inhibit its own effects in order to maintain consistency in its levels. Also, the brain is capable of expelling excessive GABA if necessary to avoid depressive effects.

Possible Complications of GABA Deficiencies

Maintaining an adequate level of gamma-butyric acid is necessary for avoiding several possible symptoms associated with GABA deficiencies. GABA is used as a supplement for various purposes.

GABA is used for chronic anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), premenstrual syndrome (PMS), improving the mood, and improving sleep.

Additionally, GABA is used to encourage lean muscle development, equalize the blood pressure, ease pain, and enhance fat metabolism by bodybuilders. It has been shown to increase levels of Human Growth Hormone secreted by the pituitary gland following intense exercise.

Gamma-butyric acid is used as a dietary supplement to enhance mood, fight stress, and prevent anxiety attacks. It is considered safe for oral use in the short term.

Various clinical studies have shown GABA to cause no ill effects during periods up to twelve weeks when used at safe doses and not combined with interacting drugs.

There is not enough data available to determine the complete safety of GABA on babies. Pregnant and nursing women are advised to consult with their doctors before using GABA supplements, even if you think you may have a GABA deficiency.

Purported Effects of GABA Supplements

Although definitive clinical proof is currently lacking concerning the therapeutic benefits of GABA supplementation, the Natural Medicines database has rated GABA as Possibly Effective for improving hypertension and motion sickness.

In one study of patients with hypertension, 11 mg of GABA was combined with 100 mL of fermented milk and ingested daily. After twelve weeks, both diastolic and systolic blood pressure levels were significantly improved compared to levels where only the fermented milk was given.

Research shows that taking the GABA product Aminalon in a single 0.5-gram dose helps negate the symptoms of motion sickness. The dose was administered 45 minutes before traveling began and then repeated three or four times daily over four days. Motion sickness symptoms including pallor (paleness), chills, nausea, vomiting, and cold sweats were reduced.

A GABA deficiency may be a possible causal factor for cerebral palsy. Taking GABA orally every day for 2 months seems to improve several important cognitive factors including vocabulary, motor strength, learning, physical functioning, mental development and motor activity/hyperactivity.

Between 1.5 and 3 grams of gamma-butyric acid has been used daily for 20 days to improve the symptoms of chronic bronchitis. Supplementation increased the times between episodes of acute exacerbations in adults with chronic bronchitis. These results were found by using GABA in conjunction with conventional treatments for bronchitis.

GABA deficiencies may also cause elevations in stress levels. Research shows that daily GABA doses at 200 mg reduce the scores for stress variables including confusion, depression, tension, anxiety, and anger.

Having a GABA deficiency may make an individual more susceptible to several other ailments as well. Epilepsy, Huntington’s disease, Cushing’s disease, meningitis, and psychoorganic syndrome are all affected by GABA levels.

In the USA, GABA is available as a dietary supplement only, and the FDA has not approved GABA as a drug to prevent or treat any conditions.

Avoid GABA Deficiency with Foods

While many people may want to improve a GABA deficiency by using GABA supplements, this very often will not work. Supplemental GABA needs to cross over the blood-brain barrier to cause an effect in the brain, however current scientific knowledge has shown that it cannot cross this barrier and enter the brain.

However, there are many positive reviews online of people using GABA for anxiety, depression, and sleep issues. There are some theories that personal differences in blood-brain barrier permeability may allow supplemental GABA into the brains of some people.

Another theory is that GABA may be able to cause effects in the brain without crossing the blood-brain barrier at all, and instead interacting with the enteric nervous system in the gastrointestinal tract. However these theories have not been proven at this point, and would be good areas for future research.

Since GABA supplementation to improve levels in the brain is not known to consistently cause an effect, people will turn to other options to increase GABA levels.

As stated, Gamma-butyric acid is an amino acid. It is able to be reverse synthesized from glutamic acid. It follows that increasing the amount of foods consumed which are high in glutamic acid can elevate GABA levels in the brain as well.

The following foods are excellent sources of glutamic acid and may help to avoid developing a GABA deficiency.

• Almonds
• Bananas
• Lentils
• Oats
• Oranges
• Spinach
• Rice Bran
• Walnuts
• Potatoes
• Halibut

While a GABA deficiency is unwanted, there may also be some side effects linked to excess GABA levels. While this situation would be unlikely from consuming glutamic acid foods, excess GABA levels may occur if using GABAergic substances, such as alcohol or drugs that are commonly prescribed for anxiety.

While the brain normally has natural mechanisms to prevent hyperelevation of GABA levels, overdose is possible.

Not much is known about the long-term safety of gamma-butyric acid. It is always best to speak with a doctor before beginning any supplementation plan, especially if you have a serious pre-existing health condition, or if you are taking prescription medications.

If you believe you may have a GABA deficiency, your doctor can help you determine the best strategy for normalizing levels of this neurotransmitter.

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