By Ben Fuchs | Pharmacist Ben
Like many nutrients, with the exception of the essential ones, GABA is a chemical component that is produced by the body, but one that can be taken as a supplement for maximum benefit.
It is technically a neurotransmitter, which simply means it is a chemical that affects nerves; in the case of GABA, the effects are inhibitory, which means it’s got some nice anti-stress effects. There are prescription drugs such as the benzodiazepines (diazepam for example) that induce relaxing effects by exploiting the GABA neurological system.
GABA can be taken as a sleep aid and it has been used by anxiety sufferers to improve their sense of well-being. Body-builders have a special fondness for GABA because it can help improve growth hormone levels. According to well-known study done at The University Of Milan, Italy, 90 minutes after supplementation with 5000mg of GABA, levels of growth hormone increased by 5 times.
GABA may help improve concentration and also can be used for its soporific effects to help alleviate insomnia. Try taking one or two grams before going to bed, it may help you get a good night’s sleep and you’ll be helping support the nighttime growth hormone surge that occurs as part of normal endocrine functioning.
gamma-Aminobutyric acid
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
γ-Aminobutyric acid is the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system. It plays a role in regulating neuronal excitability throughout the nervous system. In humans, GABA is also directly responsible for the regulation of muscle tone.
Structure and conformation
GABA is found mostly as a zwitterion, that is, with the carboxy group deprotonated and the amino group protonated. Its conformation depends on its environment. In the gas phase, a highly folded conformation is strongly favored because of the electrostatic attraction between the two functional groups. The stabilization is about 50 kcal/mol, according to quantum chemistry calculations. In the solid state, a more extended conformation is found, with a trans conformation at the amino end and a gauche conformation at the carboxyl end. This is due to the packing interactions with the neighboring molecules. In solution, five different conformations, some folded and some extended, are found as a result of solvation effects. The conformational flexibility of GABA is important for its biological function, as it has been found to bind to different receptors with different conformations. Many GABA analogues with pharmaceutical applications have more rigid structures in order to control the binding better.
Now Gaba 500mg
Supplement Facts:
Serving Size: 1 Capsule
Amount Per Serving:
Vitamin B-6 (from Pyridoxine Hydrochloride) 2 mg 100%
GABA (Gamma Aminobutyric Acid) 500 mg
Other Ingredients: Rice Flour, Gelatin (capsule), Magnesium Stearate (vegetable source) and Silica.
Contains no: sugar, salt, yeast, wheat, gluten, corn, soy, milk, egg, shellfish or preservatives.
