What is GABA?
Gaba – Gamma-aminobutyric acid is an indeed occurring amino acid that functions as a neurotransmitter in the brain. GABA is a repressive neurotransmitter because it blocks or suppresses specific brain signals and reduces the nervous system’s activity. Neurotransmitters act as chemical envoys.
When GABA binds to a brain protein known as the GABA receptor, it has a calming effect. It can help with feelings of anxiety, stress, and fear. It can also help prevent seizures.
Because of these properties, GABA has also become a popular supplement in recent years. It is partially due to the detail that it cannot be obtained from many food bases. The only foods that contain GABA are wild foods like kimchi, miso, and tempeh.
But how well do these supplements work? Read more to find out more about the scientific evidence for the potential benefits of GABA supplements.
Why do people take GABA supplements?
The natural calming effect of GABA on the brain has led to countless claims of using GABA supplements to reduce stress. Too much emphasis has been linked to, among other things, poor sleep, a weak immune system, and an increased risk of depression.
Here is a more detailed analysis of the effects of stress on your body. Additionally, people with certain medical conditions may have lower GABA levels. Some of these conditions include:
Epilepsy
Movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Syndrome
Anxiety
Panic attack
Mood disorders such as depression
Some people with these conditions take GABA supplements to relieve symptoms. While this makes sense in theory, there isn’t much evidence that GABA supplements can help with these conditions other than anxiety.
How Effective are GABA Supplements?
Little is known about the efficiency of GABA supplements. Specialists don’t know how much GABA ends up in the brain when consumed as a supplement or food. But some research from Trusted Sources shows that these are only small amounts.
Here are some of the studies on The most popular uses of GABA.
Anxiety
In a 2006 article, two minimal studies found that members who seized its supplement experienced a greater sense of relaxation during a traumatic event than those who took a placebo or L-theanine, another popular supplement. The article also shows that the calming effect was felt within one hour of taking the supplement.
High blood pressure
A few smaller older studies have evaluated the use of products containing it to lower blood pressure.
In a 2003 study, daily consumption of a fermented milk product containing it reduced blood pressure in people with mild hypertension after two to four weeks. This was compared with a placebo.
A 2009 study found that taking a chlorella supplement containing it twice a day lowered blood pressure in people with marginal high blood pressure.
Insomnia
In a 2018 study, members who took 300 milligrams (mg) of a reliable source of it an hour before bedtime fell asleep faster than those who took a placebo. They also reported an improvement in sleep quality four weeks after starting treatment.
Like many other studies examining the effects of GABA supplementation on humans, this study was very
small, with only 40 participants.
Stress and Fatigue
A 2011 study in Japan looked at the effects of a drink containing 25 or 50 mg of it on 30 participants. Both drinks were associated with lower mental and physical fatigue scores when completing the problem-solving task. But the drink containing 50 mg turned out to be slightly more effective.
Another 2009 study found that eating chocolate containing 28 mg of it reduced stress in participants performing problem-solving activities. Another study used capsules containing 100 mg of it abridged stress levels in people performing an experimental mental task.
The results of all these studies look promising. But most of this training was very small, and many of them are outdated. More significant, longer-term studies are needed to understand the benefits of supplementing with GABA fully.
Side effects of GABA supplements
The potential side effects of GABA supplements have not been adequately researched, so it isn’t easy to know what to expect.
Some commonly reported side effects include:
Stomach ache
Headache
Drowsiness
Muscle weakness
Because it can make some people tired, you should not drive or function machinery after taking it until you know how it disturbs you.
It’s also unclear if it interacts with medications or other supplements. If you want to try it, check with your doctor first. Be sure to tell them about any prescription or over-the-counter medications you are taking, including herbs and other supplements. They can provide you with a better idea of potential connections to look out for when taking it.
Conclusion:
GABA plays a significant role in our body as a chemical messenger. But when used as a compliment, its role is less clear. Some research suggests it can help reduce anxiety, fatigue, nervousness, and insomnia. But many of these educations are small, outdated, or both. A further indication is needed to understand better the potential benefits of taking it.
The GABA supplements you can buy online might be worth trying if you’re looking for natural strain relievers. But don’t trust it to treat any fundamental conditions, including extreme anxiety, seizure disorders, or high blood pressure.
