GABA was identified in the mammalian brain in 1950's. It is believed to be the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. GABA is synthesized from Glutamate. Glutamate is a pivotal amino acid in the brain. It is dervied from alpha keto glutarate, which is one of the intermediates in the Krebs cycle by way of the addition of an amine group. Glutamate also undergoes transamination to form glutamine by addition of another amine group. Glutamine then proceeds to the liver where it is deaminated to regenerated glutamate, which then returns to the brain. This is brain's nitrogen cycle. In situations where the liver is unable to deaminate the glutamine the brain must obtain glutamate by draining the Kreb's cycle intermediates. This in turn begins to impair cerebral energy metabolism.
Following release GABA can be taken back up by the neurons or by astrocytes. It appears that the release of GABA is also under auto receptor control. GABA is metabolized by the enzyme GABA transaminase (GABA-T) to form succinic acid semialdehyde. Succinic acid semialdehyde is metabolized further to form succinic acid, which is also a Kreb's cycle intermediate. GABA-T is inhibited by valproic acid. This is the basis for the belief that valproic acid is GABAergic. There are other alternative pathways for GABA metabolism.
GABA functions in the central nervous system as a neurotransmitter; it occupies the nerve receptor sites for anxiety or stress related messages so that they are restrained from reaching the brain.
GABA can be taken as a tranquilizer to calm the body, but without the addiction that can come with usage of Valium™ or Librium™. GABA is also used for epilepsy, hypertension, and ADD-ADHD.
Balanced supplementation is important because too much GABA can increase anxiety, and cause numbness in the face and tingling in the fingers and toes.
GABA is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. When the level of GABA in the brain decreases to below a certain level, seizures and other neurological disorders may occur. The level of GABA in the brain is controlled by two enzymes, glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) and GABA transaminase (GABA-T).
GABA is considered to act as a natural calming and anti-epileptic agent in the brain. Since GABA is not transported efficiently into the brain from the bloodstream, most of the GABA found in the brain is manufactured there. For that reason, supplemental GABA would not be expected to increase levels of GABA in the brain. A few physicians have reported that GABA can be beneficial when used in connection with a variety of brain disorders including epilepsy and schizophrenia, but these reports have not been scientifically substantiated. Intake of high levels GABA has shown to produce a marked increase in plasma growth-hormone levels and prolactin in one study, but the implication and application of these findings is not yet clear.
Gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) is a non-essential amino acid formed from glutamic acid with the help of vitamin B6. GABA (gamma-amino butyric acid) is found in almost every region of brain, and is formed through the activity of the enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD). GABA serves as a inhibitory neurotransmitter to block the transmission of an impulse from one cell to another in the central nervous system.
Benefits of GABA
GABA helps to relieve the person from s tress and anxiety. It acts as a neurotransmitter to the brain. GABA is the most common message-altering neurotransmitter in the brain.
It acts as a receptor of stress and anxiety and thus prevents them to reach the brain.
GABA is also used for epilepsy, hypertension, and ADD-ADHD.
GABA is considered to act as a natural calming and anti-epileptic agent in the brain.
A few physicians have reported that GABA can be beneficial when used in connection with a variety of brain disorders including epilepsy and schizophrenia, but these reports have not been scientifically substantiated.
Deficiency symptoms of GABA
If a sufficient amount of GABA is lacking, however, the system goes out of whack, and tens of thousands of neurons send messages rapidly, intensely and simultaneously, resulting in a seizure.
Symptoms of high intake
Intake of high levels GABA has shown to produce a marked increase in plasma growth-hormone levels and prolactin in one study, but the implication and application of these findings is not yet clear.
Too much GABA can increase anxiety, and cause numbness in the face and tingling in the fingers and toes.
Daily requirement
Some doctors have recommended GABA in the amount of 200 mg four times daily, although no general recommendation is made for supplementation of GABA.
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Orally taken GABA does not pass through the Blood-Brain-Barrier, so GABA supplements are useless.
The recent explosive levels of Blood-Brian Barrier research may soon show your information is only partially correct.
(Before I continue, I want to say I am in good health, I do not take GABA, nor am I in close association with anyone who does. I came across this site while "perusing" various sites of interest, and so have no vested interest in your comment, except that.....it struck me as unecessarily dispassionate; as well as out of sync with newly growing hypothosese based on emerging studies.)
Indeed, GABA does not normally pass through the Blood-Brain Barrier -- unless that Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) is compromised. (Although, some researchers/doctors theorize that in high enough doses, small amounts of GABA might pass though the BBB.)
However, the BBB can be and/or is compromised by a number of conditions and influences. The dynamic of high blood levels of homocysteine for example is now a known mechanism of Blood-Brain Barrier compromise.
Elevated levels of homocysteine (Hyperhomocysteine) also has several known causes - from genetic to hypothyroid - but, like high cortisol levels, it is nearly always associated with high or longterm stressers. (lifestyle, dietary, inflamatory processes, etc) Certainly, most would agree that, whatever the cause, few people seeking clinical benefits of GABA would not be in the high-stress catagory.
Continuing further, reports show that large numbers of people do experience improvements from Gaba (..some degree of compromise in the Blood-Brain Barrier perhaps?), while large numbers who would gain equally from increased GABA levels seem to experience no benefits or all (..little or no compromise in the Blood-Brain Barrier?).
So that I don't pose baseless query, I have included two reference sites below that you and others might find useful regarding GABA's (and other substances) seeming dualistic relationship with possible permiation of the Blood-Brain Barrier.
If you trek through a few GABA research sites you'll also find studies suggesting that Gaba taken orally can in varying degrees stimulate certain "GABA precursers", thus affecting GABA production through more indirect ways than crossing of the BBB.
We used to think the world was flat, and that nerve and brain cells can not regenerate - remember? Keep your eye on Brain Barrier reasearch, Ian.
1) Easy-read article in the British Medical Journal on "Stress and Blood-Brain Barrier"
(www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/313/7071/1505/a)
2) Excelent 2006 scientific research brief in The Journal of American Hemotology - 'Hyperhomocystein and Blood-Brain Barrier'.
Quote from its abstract: "...Our study suggests an important toxic effect of elevated Hcy on brain microvessels and implicates Hcy in the dissruption of BBB."
(www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=189564)
Like the info, too!
I also want to add that the article said the transmission of GABA across the blood-brain barrier is inefficient, not that it's non-existent. And that would be in the perfectly healthy body. I read recently that people with multiple sclerosis have something like holes in their blood-brain barriers so that all kinds of stuff gets through there that normally wouldn't. I doubt that MS is the only condition associated with a porous blood-brain barrier.
Ornithine along with Arginine (both non essential amino acids made by the body) are also said ti effect the increased HGH.
Any experienced users here ???
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good luck.
I was wondering if it is OK to take GABA with valerian and passion flower. I started taking these a week or so ago for anxiety and insomnia. So far I don't think they've helped with the anxiety but my insomnia's slightly better - it takes me less time to go to sleep and I wake up a few times less a night.
Thanks,
Dom
GABA works. The first time I had it, I took a bit too much and had to ask my wife to drive because it, in a pleasant way, made me feel a little tipsy. I also recommend the supplement Inositol. I let both dissolve under my tongue for 5 minutes on an empty stomach, before meals and before bedtime. It helps with calming as well as reducing obsessive or redundant thinking.
And their effectiveness is confirmed in many studies, along with organizations such as the Pfeiffer Treatment Center (google it), which is giving people a more gentle, effective and natural solution for mental ailments.
I use it in combination with GABA.
Another good effect of GABA that i've read is that it increases collagen production, which is good for skin, joints, hair, etc...
How do you know if your GABA is low? There are tests for it. You don't have to guess. You can also test your neuropherine, serotonin and others. See a licensed ND Naturopathic doctor for a lab panel.