GABA Use for Depression and Bipolar Disorder

Oral administration of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) for depression is sometimes used as a natural treatment option.

This supplement is commonly used for anxiety, depression and stress relief. But how effective is it for improving mood and alleviating low feelings?

Clinical trials regarding the effects of GABA for depression are limited, but some online user reviews suggest that this supplement did work for them.

There is a strong correlation between low GABA levels and major depression. For this reason, modulators of GABA receptors in the brain have been proposed as novel antidepressants.

GABAergic supplements and drugs may be recommended on their own or in combination with other medications intended to treat depression.

In the USA, GABA supplements are available as dietary supplements only, and the FDA has not approved GABA as a drug to prevent or treat any conditions. It is always recommended that you speak with your doctor before beginning any new supplements, especially if you have any diagnosed conditions.

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

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GABA and Depression

GABA is a non-protein amino acid that acts primarily as a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS).

It slows down neuronal signaling inside the brain, inhibiting nervous activities.

It is required to balance excitatory signals which can cause anxiety and over-stimulation if they are not properly regulated.

Individuals with depression also often experience anxiousness, social anxiety, and other related conditions.

In such cases, the use of GABA for depression with anxiety may help, but you should speak to your doctor first to determine if this is the right supplement approach for you.

GABA Supplement Uses

The use of supplements to increase GABA levels in the brain is popular for a number of different goals.

In addition to its use as a mood enhancer, it is also taken as a nootropic brain supplement for increased focus, improving bipolar disorder symptoms PMS (premenstrual syndrome), chronic anxiety, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and more.

This supplement is also taken to improve the quality and duration of sleep and for reducing insomnia episodes.

In research studies, GABA supplements have also been shown to improve muscle recovery and increase Human Growth Hormone secretions. It is commonly taken by bodybuilders and by people who want to lose weight for these reasons.

Commercially available GABA supplements are one of the best-selling natural health products in the United States and around the world. However, there is some on-going debate about the degree of effectiveness when administered as an oral supplement.

GABA has a very difficult time crossing the blood brain barrier (BBB) when taken in pill form. The brain seems to have a self-limiting mechanism to prevent GABA levels from becoming too high.

Nitric Oxide boosters have been shown to induce vasodilation of the circulatory vessels and may be effective at improving inner-brain GABA levels.

Understanding How GABA Works

What is the rationale behind taking GABA for depression symptom relief? It has to do with the role GABA plays in regulating neurotransmission within the brain and the potential for improving inter-neuronal communication in key areas.

Researchers suggest that compounds that can stimulate GABA A and GABA B receptors in the brain can act as antidepressants.

In the nervous system, neurotransmitters are used to relay neuronal impulses from neuron to neuron. Neurotransmitters send nerve signals across synapses. This allows neurons to communicate and conduct messages throughout the brain and spinal cord, which form the Central Nervous System.

The nerves that connect the CNS to the rest of the body are called the peripheral nervous system (PNS). In the PNS, neurotransmitters are used to pass signals from CNS nerves to cells in glands, muscles and other tissues.

GABA and Glutamate

GABA is the brain’s most prevalent inhibitory neurotransmitter and Glutamate is the most prevalent excitatory neurotransmitter. They are required to balance each other out: while Glutamate has a stimulatory effect on neurons when released, GABA has a depressive effect in the Central Nervous System.

GABA and Glutamate are both found in their highest concentrations in the cerebral cortex of the brain, where sensations get interpreted and our thoughts are produced.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid is actually synthesized from Glutamate. Inside the brain, Glutamate is converted into GABA when necessary via the carboxylic acid cycle.

As glucose is a primary precursor of both GABA and Glutamate, it is possible to synthesize GABA from Glutamate and vice-versa. This helps to ensure that there is not too much of one neurotransmitter or the other, however sometimes this system does not work properly.

GABA and Glutamate exist in a yin-yang type of relationship. They balance to effects of the other to ensure consistent control of variables like mood, heartbeat, breathing rate, sleep patterns and other rhythmic processes. If too much Glutamate or Dopamine has overexcited the brain or body, GABA and Serotonin are necessary to prevent hyperactivity.

GABA for Depression

So why do people take GABA for depression?

It has been shown that individuals with bipolar disorder and those who are depressed exhibit lower GABA plasma levels.

This means that they have lower levels of GABA in their blood and it is likely they have lower levels in the brain as well.

Depressed individuals also often suffer from sleep disturbances and poor sleeping patterns. The sedative effects of this supplement may improve the ability to fall asleep at night. This can have a number of positive benefits for patients with depression, including lower stress levels and better mental clarity and energy levels during the day.

One area that has been explored in research studies is using GABAergic drugs. These are compounds that can stimulate the receptors for GABA in the brain even if levels of this neurotransmitter are too low.

In a limited number of research studies, therapies involving GABAergic supplements and medicines together have been found effective for improving depression symptoms. One clinical study found that co-therapy with the GABA agonist Eszopicione improved therapeutic response when administered with an antidepressant.

This means taking a compound that acts like GABA alongside antidepressant drugs may enhance the effectiveness of depression therapies. There are a number of the agonists that selectively stimulate receptors for this neurotransmitter in the brain.

But what about taking a GABA supplement itself? Research shows that GABA cannot easily cross the BBB, and it has an oral bioavailability of less than 20% inside the brain. In other words, less than 20% of the GABA you take in capsule form may make it across the Blood-Brain Barrier.

There are many users who say that GABA has helped them improve their depression and anxiety symptoms and these anecdotal reviews should carry some weight, even though they are not the same as clinically validated results from a double-blind placebo-controlled study.

Some researchers argue that it still works because it can bind to GABA receptors located outside of the brain, specifically in the enteric nervous system in the gastrointestinal tract. Another theory is that there may be personal differences in blood-brain barrier permeability, and that some people may have a more permeable blood-brain barrier that allows compounds like supplemental GABA in.

Overall, more research is needed to determine the specific pathways involved, as current scientific knowledge of GABA not being able to cross the blood-brain barrier to any great extent and cause an effect in the brain, does not line up with many user experiences.

That being said, there are other ways to increase GABA levels in the brain using alternative supplements like L-Theanine, Lemon Balm, or Valerian Root.

Additionally, because GABA is not found in any food sources, to naturally raise its levels it may be helpful to consume more foods that are concentrated with glutamate. Some of these foods include bananas, oats, oranges, halibut, spinach and lean cuts of meat.

Conclusions

Not enough is known about supplemental Gamma-aminobutyric acid to determine its efficacy of use for depression.

In one study involving patients with bipolar disorder, it was shown that supplementation with GABA was as effective at treating symptoms as was lithium and fluoxetine therapy. In another study, using the GABA agonist Eszopicione as a co-therapy was found to improve depression symptoms.

However, there has also been reports of side effects in certain cases. Some evidence seems to indicate that increasing GABA levels in those with chronically low levels, such as with chronically depressed persons, may cause erratic incidences to occur. In one case, a suicide attempt was reported.

If you are considering using GABA supplements for depression, talk with a doctor first to learn more about possible side effects as well as drug and supplement interactions.

While this supplement is generally safe if used appropriately, there is always a rise of negative outcomes. Adverse effects may occur if this supplement is used improperly or if combined with contraindicated substances, such as alcohol.

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