This activity produces effects such as:. The brain naturally releases GABA at the end of a day to promote sleepiness and allow a person to rest. Some of the medications doctors prescribe to induce sleep and reduce anxiety may also increase the action of GABA. Some experts have suggested that increased levels of GABA may have benefits, but the evidence is not clear.
According to a review , GABA has anti-microbial, anti-seizure, and antioxidant properties and may help treat and prevent conditions such as:. Doctors may prescribe medicines that increase the amount of GABA or stimulate the same neurotransmitters in the brain to treat some medical conditions, such as epilepsy. According to one study , people who have depression may have reduced GABA levels in the brain.
The use of benzodiazepines may be beneficial in those instances. Doctors also prescribe the medication gabapentin Neurontin , which is chemically similar to GABA to reduce seizures and muscle pain. However, doctors are not clear whether the therapeutic effects of these medications are related to their effect on GABA receptors or whether they work in other ways.
Manufacturers may add GABA to:. However, the FDA do not regulate dietary supplements in the same way as medications. Therefore, consumers should exercise caution as to where they purchase the product from and only buy from reputable vendors and companies. Some people may take a supplement in pill form, while others may add it to foods, such as protein drinks. Researchers have not established a daily recommended intake or a suggested upper limit for GABA. Anyone wanting to take GABA as a supplement should consider talking to their doctor first.
At present, there is not enough research to evaluate the possible side effects of taking GABA supplements.
However, if a person does experience side effects that might be GABA-related, they should discontinue the use of the supplement and contact their doctor. Some researchers have voiced concerns about the supposed positive benefits of taking GABA supplements.
An article in the journal Frontiers in Psychology notes that experts remain unclear whether GABA offers real benefits or whether the effects that people report experiencing are a placebo response. Other researchers do not believe that GABA supplements cross the blood-brain barrier, which they would have to do to have any effect on the body.
Although the study was small, involving just 30 healthy volunteers, it showed how GABA supplementation might promote enhanced thinking. An older study from found that taking mg of GABA daily helped reduce stress due to mental tasks.
There is scientific evidence indicating that GABA may work to reduce high blood pressure. In one study of people with borderline high blood pressure, 12 weeks of use of the supplement chlorella , a type of algae that is rich in GABA, significantly lowered blood pressure. In addition to being important on its own, maintaining a healthy blood pressure can also help protect your sleep. High blood pressure can be a sign of hyper-arousal, a state of physical alertness and vigilance that can make it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Poor sleep and sleep disorders, particularly sleep apnea, contribute to high blood pressure, and can lead to the kind of hypertension that is difficult to treat. Always consult your doctor before you begin taking a supplement or make any changes to your existing medication and supplement routine. This is not medical advice , but it is information you can use as a conversation-starter with your physician at your next appointment.
The following doses are based on amounts that have been investigated in scientific studies. In general, it is recommended that users begin with the lowest suggested dose, and gradually increase as needed. For sleep , stress and anxiety : mg and higher doses, in scientific studies. Individual dosing and length of use will vary. GABA oral supplements are generally well tolerated by healthy adults.
Some people may experience negative side effects, including:. These are commonly used medications and supplements that have scientifically-identified interactions with GABA. People who take these or any other medications and supplements should consult with a physician before beginning to use GABA as a supplement. High blood pressure medications. GABA can lower blood pressure. If you take GABA in addition to taking blood pressure medication, your blood pressure may drop too low.
Anti-depressant medications. People taking anti-depressant medications should consult with their physicians before taking GABA. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Gamma-aminobutyric acid—often referred to as GABA —is an amino acid and a neurotransmitter, a type of chemical responsible for carrying signals from a nerve cell to another cell.
Specifically, GABA slows activity in the brain, producing a calming effect. Produced naturally in the body, GABA is also widely available in supplement form. They say GABA supplements can even treat:. Unlike many dietary supplements, GABA cannot be found in ordinary foods. But it's claimed that certain foods containing antioxidants called flavonoids can increase the activity of GABA in your body.
These foods include:. However, scientists don't really know if certain foods can affect the way GABA works in the brain. This article will discuss how GABA may help people deal with stress and anxiety.
It will talk about GABA supplements and the evidence for their supposed benefits. Research shows that GABA might play a key role in protecting against depression and anxiety. For instance, a review article published in the journal Neuropharmacology in concluded that people with anxiety and depression are more likely to have low levels of GABA.
However, there isn't enough research on the health effects of GABA supplements to make any conclusions. What's more, scientists haven't yet figured out if GABA taken as a supplement can actually reach the brain and trigger any beneficial changes.
Substances used to help you relax, such as alcohol , stimulate GABA receptors. This leads to feelings of relaxation and sleepiness. The same effect occurs as a result of taking sleep-inducing drugs such as Ambien zolpidem. But these approaches are only effective for a short period of time. They can also have undesirable side effects. Certain herbal supplements including valerian may help elevate GABA levels in the brain. Certain mind-body practices may also help boost your brain's levels of GABA.
As a result, you may end up in a better mood and experience less anxiety. While alcohol and sleeping pills can increase your GABA levels, they also may cause unpleasant side effects.
Some herbal supplements, like valerian, can provide a natural boost in GABA levels. Practicing yoga can also help relax the body and increase the level of GABA in your brain.
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