What Is Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)? Other Names: Acide Bêta-Phényl-Gamma-Amino-Butyrique, Acide Gamma-Aminobutyrique, GABA

What is Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)?

This post was written with Consensus AI Academic Search Engine – please read our Disclaimer at the end of this article. Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) is a primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. It plays a crucial role in regulating neuronal excitability throughout the nervous system. GABA is involved in various physiological and psychological processes, including relaxation, anxiety reduction, cognitive function, and immune response. Other names include: Acide Bêta-Phényl-Gamma-Amino-Butyrique, Acide Gamma-Aminobutyrique, Ácido Gama-Aminobutríco, Beta-Phenyl-Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, GABA, Gamma Amino Butyric Acid, Gamma-aminobutyric Acid.

Role in the Central Nervous System

GABA functions as an inhibitory neurotransmitter, which means it reduces neuronal excitability by binding to GABA receptors on neurons. This action helps to maintain the balance between neuronal excitation and inhibition, which is essential for normal brain function. Studies have shown that GABA has the potential to reduce the impact of cognitive disorders and enhance cognitive functions and mood2 3.

Effects on Relaxation and Anxiety

GABA has been found to induce relaxation and reduce anxiety. In a study involving human subjects, GABA administration significantly increased alpha waves and decreased beta waves in the brain, indicating a state of relaxation and reduced anxiety1. This effect was observed within one hour of GABA administration, suggesting its potential as a natural relaxant.

Impact on Immunity

GABA also plays a role in enhancing immunity, particularly under stress conditions. In a study involving acrophobic subjects, those who received GABA showed significantly higher levels of Immunoglobulin A (IgA) during a stressful event compared to those who received a placebo. This indicates that GABA can enhance immune function during stress1.

Cognitive Functions

While GABA is known for its inhibitory effects, its impact on cognitive functions such as working memory and attention has been studied with mixed results. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, GABA was found to increase visual search time but did not significantly affect visual search accuracy, temporal attention, or visual working memory precision2 3. This suggests that GABA’s effects on cognition may be more complex and require further investigation.

Gastrointestinal and Metabolic Effects

GABA has also been studied for its effects on gastrointestinal health and metabolic functions. In weaning piglets, dietary GABA supplementation improved growth performance, modulated intestinal immunity, and regulated the intestinal GABAergic system and gut microbiota4. Additionally, GABA has been shown to regulate glucose homeostasis and enhance hepatopancreas health in juvenile Chinese mitten crabs under fasting stress6.

Antihypertensive and Antistress Properties

GABA has beneficial effects on blood pressure and stress. In a study involving mildly hypertensive adults, consumption of GABA-enriched white rice significantly improved morning blood pressure compared to a placebo5. This suggests that GABA can be effective in managing hypertension and stress.

Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Effects

GABA has demonstrated gastroprotective effects against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. In rats, GABA pretreatment significantly reduced gastric ulcer index and increased antioxidant enzyme activities, while decreasing pro-inflammatory factors7. This indicates that GABA can protect against gastric injuries and improve overall gastric health.

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Adverse Effects of Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)

Cardiovascular and Subjective Effects

Cardiovascular Changes: In a study involving methamphetamine-dependent volunteers, GABA (in the form of gamma-vinyl-GABA) did not significantly alter systolic or diastolic blood pressures or heart rate, although some methamphetamine-induced cardiovascular changes approached significance and may warrant further attention2.

Subjective Effects: The same study found that GABA did not significantly affect the subjective experiences of “any drug effect,” “high,” or “crave methamphetamine”2.

Hormonal Effects

Growth Hormone and Prolactin: A single oral dose of GABA significantly elevated plasma growth hormone levels but did not consistently alter plasma prolactin concentration. Prolonged GABA treatment blunted the response of growth hormone and enhanced that of prolactin to insulin hypoglycemia7.

Cognitive and Memory Effects

Working Memory and Attention: GABA increased visual search time but did not affect visual search accuracy, temporal attention, or visual working memory precision in healthy adults. This suggests that GABA might slow down certain cognitive processes without improving accuracy or memory8 10.

Gastrointestinal Effects

Gastroprotective Effects: GABA has been shown to reduce ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury by improving anti-inflammatory and antioxidant status, as well as increasing prostaglandin E2 and nitric oxide levels9.

Safety and Tolerability

General Tolerability: In various studies, GABA was generally well-tolerated with no serious adverse events reported. However, some participants experienced transient adverse events that resolved without intervention2 5.

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How has Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Improved Patient Outcomes?

Improvements in Sleep Quality

Insomnia: GABA extracted from unpolished rice germ significantly improved both subjective and objective sleep quality. Patients experienced reduced sleep latency and increased sleep efficacy after 4 weeks of treatment with 300 mg daily, without severe adverse events1 4.

Low-Dose Efficacy: A lower dose of 75 mg daily also improved sleep quality and efficacy, suggesting that even smaller amounts of GABA can be beneficial for insomnia with fewer adverse effects4.

Mental Health Benefits

PTSD: Tiagabine, a selective GABA reuptake inhibitor, showed significant improvements in PTSD symptoms, anxiety, depression, sleep quality, resilience, and disability in an open-label trial. Continued treatment was associated with a greater likelihood of remission2.

Major Depressive Disorder: A 12-week yoga intervention increased thalamic GABA levels and decreased depressive symptoms in patients with MDD. The study suggested that yoga might improve mood by enhancing GABA activity, although the effect was time-limited5.

Neurological and Psychiatric Conditions

Tardive Dyskinesia: Gamma-vinyl GABA, which increases brain GABA levels, significantly reduced symptoms of tardive dyskinesia in a placebo-controlled trial. However, this was correlated with increased parkinsonism6.

Cardiovascular Health

Hypertension: GABA-enriched white rice significantly improved morning blood pressure in mildly hypertensive adults over an 8-week period. This suggests that GABA can have antihypertensive effects7.

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Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Mechanisms of Action

Inhibition of Neuronal Activity

GABA primarily functions by binding to GABA receptors (GABA_A and GABA_B) on neurons, leading to the opening of ion channels that allow chloride ions to enter the neuron. This influx of chloride ions makes the neuron more negatively charged and less likely to fire an action potential, thereby inhibiting neuronal activity6 7.

Modulation of Neurotransmitter Release

GABA can modulate the release of other neurotransmitters. For instance, it has been shown to influence the secretion of growth hormone and prolactin, although the exact mechanisms are not fully understood2 4.

Role in Action Cascading

GABAergic systems play a crucial role in action selection and cascading, which involves prioritizing and executing different actions in response to stimuli. Administration of GABA has been shown to improve action selection processes in complex scenarios1.

Antiepileptic Effects

GABAergic mechanisms are also involved in the control of seizures. GABA-transaminase inhibitors, which prevent the breakdown of GABA, have shown promise in reducing seizure frequency in patients with epilepsy3.

Relaxation and Anxiety Reduction

GABA has been found to induce relaxation and reduce anxiety by increasing alpha brain waves and decreasing beta waves. This effect is also associated with enhanced immunity under stress conditions5.

Sleep Regulation

GABAergic agonists, such as certain hypnotics, can enhance sleep maintenance and intensity without rapidly developing tolerance. These compounds promote deep non-REM sleep and increase sleep continuity8.

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Common Complaints Associated with Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)

Mood Disorders

Depression: Decreased GABA concentrations in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) have been linked to depressive symptoms. Specifically, lower GABA levels are negatively correlated with the severity of depressive symptoms, as measured by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 (HRDS-17)1.

Anhedonia

Lack of Pleasure: Although GABA levels are altered in mood disorders, there is no direct association between GABA concentrations and anhedonia (the inability to feel pleasure) in acute bipolar depression. This suggests that while GABA may influence overall mood, it does not directly impact the capacity to experience pleasure1.

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Disclaimer

The content presented in this blog is generated by Consensus, an AI-powered academic search engine, and is based on publicly available scientific literature. While every effort is made to provide accurate, up-to-date, and well-researched information, the content is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions regarding medical conditions, treatments, or medications. The AI system’s analysis may not cover all perspectives, emerging research, or individual cases, and it is not a substitute for professional expertise. Neither the blog publisher nor the developers of the AI-powered search engine are responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided in this content. Use of this information is at your own risk. Citations to the original scientific studies are included for reference, but these studies should be reviewed in full and interpreted with the guidance of a healthcare or research professional.

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