Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Supplements: The Truth about How they Work

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (commonly called GABA) is an important neurotransmitter produced within the brain of mammals.

Its function is to inhibit excitatory nerve impulses. In effect, it is able to calm the neurons which have been stimulated to a point of excitement.

Without GABA, excited nerve impulses would keep us in a state of constant agitation and unable to feel calm or relaxed.

Among the neurotransmitters in the brain, Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid is the second most prevalent after the excitatory neurotransmitter Acetylcholine.

For nootropic purposes, GABA would at first seem an ideal supplement people may use for ADHD, anxiety, or depression. However, Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid supplements have been shown to have a low blood-brain barrier permeability, particularly in adults, thus it is unlikely for it to have any significantly potent effects on the user.

Because of GABA’s low ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, some people turn to other GABAergic nutritional supplements which have better brain bioavailability and thus, better nootropic potential.

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* ❯

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Effects

In the brain, neurons are connected at interfaces called synapses.

Signals travel between neurons (through the synapse) via chemical impulses which are called neurotransmitters.

Receptor sites on the neurons receive these chemical signals and respond accordingly. GABA is found in high concentration in adult human brains.

Somewhere between 30 to 40% of our neuronal synapses have Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid receptors.

When GABA is released into a synapse, it binds to the receptor site on the adjacent neuron. This binding effect allows ions into the cell and causes the neuron to be less electrically excitable.

Or, to put it more simply, when other neurotransmitters are released in large amounts, it can cause the neurons to start firing in an over-excited manner. This is when GABA rushes in to create an inhibitory, or calming, effect.

The brain chemicals, when in balance, produce a general feeling of ease and well-being within us. While there are a number of excitatiry and inhibitory neurotransmitters, Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid is the primary one for invoking an inhibitory response to excitation.

Normally, Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid is naturally synthesized in our brains directly from the excitatory neurotransmitter Glutamate. In a healthy person, the amount of Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid is regulated automatically and will increase or decrease depending on what is needed.

Benefits of GABA

When Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid in available in adequate amounts, we are able to feel a sense of calmness and well-being. When it is not available in sufficient amounts, we can feel restless, anxious and agitated.

The most common issues for which Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid supplements are used are anxiety, insomnia and sleeplessness, weight loss, and panic attacks.

Those with attention disorders like ADHD or ADD are often drawn to supplementation of this amino acid in an attempt to bring a sense of tranquility and focus. People with depressive disorders also turn to this supplement in hopes of soothing and relieving some of their symptoms.

Does It Work?

Theoretically, supplementing Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid would help to offset any discrepancy between how much of this necessary neurotransmitter is needed in your brain, and how much of it is readily synthesized and available.

However, as is the case with all nootropic supplements, it first must be able to reach your brain in order to be utilized there.

The blood-brain barrier is a protective membrane that works to keep toxic substances from reaching the brain. However, because it is so selective in what it allows through, it also prohibits many of the beneficial supplements which might help to enhance our brain’s abilities.

Researchers tell us that Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid supplements are unable to penetrate the blood-brain barrier in any meaningful quantity, and thus are unable to cause an effect within our brains.

However, there are thousands of positive user reviews online for GABA supplements. While it is possible that these people are only feeling effects due to the placebo effect at work, there are also a couple theories on alternative ways Gamma-Aminobutyric acid supplements may work in the body.

Blood-brain barrier hyperpermeability (also sometimes called “leaky blood-brain barrier”) is an area of current research. One theory therefore is that individual differences in a person’s blood-brain barrier level of permeability (whether naturally or due to conditions like chronic inflammation) may allow GABA supplements to enter the brains of some people.

Another theory is based on the thought that supplemental GABA may not need to directly cross over the blood-brain barrier to cause effects in the brain. While the exact connections are still being studied, it is believed that there are connections between the brain and the network of neurons in the gastrointestinal tract (the enteric nervous system). The theory is that GABA supplements may be able to interact with GABA receptors in the gut to then cause mental effects.

There is a growing disparity between the current scientific knowledge of Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid supplements mechanism of action in the body and reports from people who have used these products. Either of the previously stated theories could help to reconcile this divide, and both would be good areas for future research, as neither has been studied in earnest yet.

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

Conclusion

The idea of supplementing with Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid is a good one, however because it cannot cross the blood-brain barrier to any meaningful degree, it may not have any benefit for users. For people who have used GABA supplements and not felt the effects they wanted, there are alternative GABAergic supplements they can try.

Both Lemon Balm and L-Theanine are natural supplements that have been seen to have GABAergic effects. In research it has been seen that both can penetrate the blood-brain barrier effectively and are able to interact with GABA receptors in the brain similarly to endogenously produced Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid.

While GABA supplements continue to be marketed for their health and cognitive benefits, you may see better results with GABAergic supplements that can interact directly with neurons in the brain.

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