Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an amino acid that functions as an inhibitory neurotransmitter. It serves one-third of brain neurons and is involved in depression and mania.

Although there are some dietary supplement and food sources for GABA (cruciferous vegetables, spinach, tomatoes, beans, and rice), the primary source may be endogenous prodution.

Nervous tissue, the gut microbiome, the liver, pancreas, and endothelial cells are important sources for production. Endogenous GABA is produced by the decarboxylation of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamic acid. It can also be produced from the diamine putrescine using diamine oxidase (DAO).

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an amino acid that functions as an inhibitory neurotransmitter. It serves one-third of brain neurons and is involved in depression and mania.

Although there are some dietary supplement and food sources for GABA (cruciferous vegetables, spinach, tomatoes, beans, and rice), the primary source may be endogenous prodution. Nervous tissue, the gut microbiome, the liver, pancreas, and endothelial cells are important sources for production.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an amino acid that functions as an inhibitory neurotransmitter. It serves one-third of brain neurons and is involved in depression and mania.

Although there are some dietary supplement and food sources for GABA (cruciferous vegetables, spinach, tomatoes, beans, and rice), the primary source may be endogenous prodution. Nervous tissue, the gut microbiome, the liver, pancreas, and endothelial cells are important sources for production.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an amino acid that functions as an inhibitory neurotransmitter. It serves one-third of brain neurons and is involved in depression and mania.

Although there are some dietary supplement and food sources for GABA (cruciferous vegetables, spinach, tomatoes, beans, and rice), the primary source may be endogenous prodution. Nervous tissue, the gut microbiome, the liver, pancreas, and endothelial cells are important sources for production.

GABA is a neurotransmitter that inhibits nervous system activity, producing a relaxation effect.

GABA is a neurotransmitter that inhibits nervous system activity, producing a relaxation effect.

Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) is an omega-6 fatty acid. The body converts linoleic acid to gamma-linolenic acid and then to arachidonic acid (AA). 

You can get gamma-linolenic acid from several plant-based oils, including evening primrose oil (EPO), borage oil, and black currant seed oil. Most of these oils also contain some linoleic acid.

Gamma-linolenic acid contains 18 carbons and 3 double bonds. It is synthesized from linoleic acid by adding a double bond using the delta-6-desaturase enzyme. This enzymatic reaction is very slow and further impaired in vitamin and mineral deficiencies such as zinc and cobalt. Stress, smoking, alcohol, and systemic inflammatory conditions can also slow this conversion.

γ-linolenic acid (GLA) is an omega-6 fatty acid containing 18 carbons and 3 double bonds (18:3n6).

It is synthesized from LA by adding a double bond using the delta-6-desaturase enzyme. This enzymatic reaction is very slow and further impaired in vitamin and mineral deficiencies such as zinc and cobalt.

Stress, smoking, alcohol, and systemic inflammatory conditions can also slow this conversion.

This test measures the amount of G6PD in red blood cells to help diagnose a G6PD deficiency.

G6PD deficiency is an inherited condition. It is when the body doesn’t have enough of an enzyme called G6PD (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase).

This enzyme helps red blood cells work correctly. A lack of this enzyme can cause hemolytic anemia. This is when the red blood cells break down faster than they are made.

GABA stands for Gamma-aminobutyric acid (γ-Aminobutyric Acid) and is a nonessential protein amino acid. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.

GABA stands for Gamma-aminobutyric acid (γ-Aminobutyric Acid) and is a nonessential protein amino acid. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an amino acid that functions as an inhibitory neurotransmitter. It serves one-third of brain neurons and is involved in depression and mania.

Although there are some dietary supplement and food sources for GABA (cruciferous vegetables, spinach, tomatoes, beans, and rice), the primary source may be endogenous prodution. Nervous tissue, the gut microbiome, the liver, pancreas, and endothelial cells are important sources for production.

γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter of the brain. Its major precursor is L-glutamate, which is converted to GABA via the enzyme glutamate decarboxylase (GAD).

GABA has also been detected in other peripheral tissues including intestines, stomach, Fallopian tubes, uterus, ovaries, testes, kidneys, urinary bladder, the lungs and liver, albeit at much lower levels than in neurons or insulin- producing β-cells.

GABA's principial role:

GABA's principal role is reducing neuronal excitability throughout the nervous system. In humans, GABA is also directly responsible for the regulation of muscle tone. In addition, GABA controls the mood, sleep, blood pressure while preventing anxiety.

GABA is sold as a dietary supplement. GABA is found ubiquitously among plants. GABA is prevalent in foods such as Adzuki bean, barley, broccoli, buckwheat, chestnut, common bean, kale, lupin, maypop, mouse-ear hawkweed, oat, pea, pokeroot, potato, rice, shiitake, soya bean, spinach, St John’s wort, sweet potato, tea, tomato, valerian, wheat, wild celery.

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.

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:

• Mental and Emotional Health
  • Low GABA symptoms include anxiousness, sad feelings, and mood swings. 6
• High GABA symptoms include poor cognition/difficulty concentrating and difficulties with memory.
• Sleep Disruptions
• Poor sleep, including difficulty falling and staying asleep, is linked to GABA deficiency. 5

How Does GABA Become Imbalanced?

A number of factors can disrupt GABA levels or associated hormones and neurotransmitters. These factors include:

• Alcohol consumption. Over time alcohol intake can cause down-regulation of GABA receptors, resulting in low GABA levels. 8
• Poor diet or maldigestion. The nutrients and cofactors found in foods necessary to make GABA can affect GABA levels. 3 Therefore, a poor diet can potentially cause low GABA levels. Some people can eat a healthy diet but due to maldigestion or malabsorption, they may still have low GABA.
• Stress. Over time stress can cause elevated levels of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine. As GABA rises to inhibit the effect of these catecholamines, it can become depleted. 9

How Can We Naturally Support GABA?

It is possible to encourage healthy levels of GABA through lifestyle measures, including:

• Consuming foods that contain GABA, or support its production, may help increase GABA levels.
  High GABA foods include: 3
  • Brown rice
  • Cruciferous vegetables (Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage)
  • Mushrooms
  • Spinach
  • Sprouted grains
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Tomatoes

• Dietary supplements containing ingredients that support GABA receptors can reduce symptoms associated with imbalanced GABA. These supplements can also support the inhibitory properties of GABA and symptoms associated with low GABA: 15-18
  • L-Theanine
  • Magnesium
  • Taurine

• Patients can take GABA in a supplement form to improve GABA levels. Vitamin B6 is also an important cofactor in the production of GABA from glutamic acid.
• Exercise, such as high-intensity exercise, can also increase GABA levels. 19

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a neurotransmitter, or chemical messenger, in the brain that blocks specific signals in the central nervous system in order to slow down the brain. This provides a protective and calming effect on the brain and body. High fat diets are shown to reduce GABA levels in the prefrontal cortex by 40% which can result in various mood imbalances and difficulty sleeping.

Urinary gadolinium (Gd) provides an indication of recent or ongoing exposure to the metal, and endogenous detoxification to a lesser extent. Urinary Gd would be expected to be variably high if urine was collected within a week of medicinal Gd administration for imaging purposes.

Gd is found in the environment in geographically variable amounts, and usually at very low levels. It is widely used in industrial and household applications such as radar technologies, compact discs, and microwaves; direct exposure from such sources is not a concern. However disposal of Gd-containing devices contributes to greater potential for human exposure. The single greatest direct source of exposure to Gd is Gd-based contrast agents (GBCAs) that are widely used with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Urinary gadolinium (Gd) provides an indication of recent or ongoing exposure to the metal, and endogenous detoxification to a lesser extent. Urinary Gd would be expected to be variably high if urine was collected within a week of medicinal Gd administration for imaging purposes.

Gd is found in the environment in geographically variable amounts, and usually at very low levels. It is widely used in industrial and household applications such as radar technologies, compact discs, and microwaves; direct exposure from such sources is not a concern. However disposal of Gd-containing devices contributes to greater potential for human exposure. The single greatest direct source of exposure to Gd is Gd-based contrast agents (GBCAs) that are widely used with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).