GABA is a neurotransmitter that occurs naturally and is known for its calming effects on the body. It is also associated with regulating the sleep/wake cycle. If we experience feelings of anxiety or hyperactivity, it could indicate an imbalance in GABA levels. This imbalance could also lead to sleep disturbances, ranging from difficulty sleeping to excessive drowsiness, depending on the severity of the imbalance. Testing for GABA levels can help identify the extent of the imbalance and the best approach to correcting it. A diet rich in GABA-containing foods, its precursor, and cofactors can help correct high or low levels of GABA.
What does GABA do?
GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter produced in the brain. GABA is also produced and functions in the periphery. As an inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA blocks excitatory neurotransmitters by decreasing stimulation of nerve cells. This blocking action by GABA leads to the calming effect that GABA is known to produce, which helps reduce anxiousness, regulate sleep, and make us feel calmer.
How is GABA made in the body?
GABA is formed from glutamate with the help of the enzyme GAD (glutamate decarboxylase) and its cofactor, vitamin B6. Although GABA is primarily produced in the central nervous system, specifically the brain, it is also produced in the enteric nervous system, the kidney and the b-cells of the pancreas. Consuming foods that support production of GABA in the body may help increase GABA levels. GABA and its precursor glutamate are also naturally present in a number of food sources such as cruciferous vegetables, beans, peas, spinach, mushrooms, buckwheat, rice and other grains, tomatoes, oolong and white teas. 3
GABA Pathway.:GABA is synthesized from glutamate. Upon being metabolized, it can be recycled into glutamate.
Enzymes:
GS: Glutamine Synthetase, GA: Glutaminase, GAD 1: Glutamate Decarboxylase, GABA-AT: GABA Aminotransferase, SSADH: Succinate Semialdehyde Dehydrogenase, GDH: Glutamate dehydrogenase, AST: Aspartate transaminase
Cofactors:
Mg: Magnesium, Mn: Magnanese, Vit: Vitamin
How does GABA affect the brain?
GABA helps you feel calmer by decreasing nerve cell stimulation in the brain, which blocks excitatory neurotransmitters. This activity of GABA leads to calming effects. Therefore, having sufficient levels of GABA helps with: 4,5
What happens when you have a GABA imbalance?
Imbalanced GABA levels are associated with a number of health concerns that impact quality of life. For example:
How does GABA become imbalanced?
A number of factors can disrupt GABA levels or associated hormones and neurotransmitters. These factors include:
How can we naturally support GABA?
It is possible to encourage healthy levels of GABA through lifestyle measures, including:
References:
Keeping track of your medical data and laboratory results while understanding what they mean empowers positive health outcomes.
Keeping track of your medical data and lab results while understanding what they mean empowers positive health outcomes.
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GABA may be synonymous with getting a good night’s sleep and is sometimes taken to optimize sleep. However, excess GABA can cause drowsiness and daytime sleepiness. 7 In instances when GABA is being considered as a supplement, testing for GABA levels may be helpful to determine how much GABA should you take. Tailoring supplementation of GABA to an individual’s test results can help to avoid excessive supplementation and high GABA symptoms.
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GABA works in conjunction with other neurotransmitters, most notably serotonin. As inhibitory neurotransmitters, GABA and serotonin should both be present in adequate levels to ensure that each can carry out their inhibitory effects in the body. When serotonin levels are low, GABA may compensate to ensure that inhibitory effects continue; this can ultimately lead to low GABA levels. Insufficient levels of GABA or serotonin would further impact the ability to counteract excitatory neurotransmitters such as glutamate, epinephrine, and norepinephrine.
Additionally, elevated glutamate may be an indicator of low GABA and underlying cofactor deficiencies. GABA also interacts with hormones in the body. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) blocks GABA, which can result in increased levels of glutamate. Progesterone’s metabolite allopregnanolone increases GABA activity while excessive GABA inhibits thyroid function.
What happens when you have a GABA imbalance?
Imbalanced GABA levels are associated with a number of health concerns that impact quality of life. For example:
How does GABA become imbalanced?
A number of factors can disrupt GABA levels or associated hormones and neurotransmitters. These factors include:
How can we naturally support GABA?
It is possible to encourage healthy levels of GABA through lifestyle measures, including:
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