Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. In a small human study researchers found that GABA works within one hour to increase a marker of stress, worry, and anxiety reduction by 60% compared to the control group.
Gamma−Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a neurotransmitter (nerve chemical) that, like all neurotransmitters, is critical for the function of the central nervous system because of its role in helping nerves “communicate”. One property of GABA gaining increased attention is its potential role in stabilizing mood disorders (1). Now a new study (2) has found that GABA can indeed help mental health by affecting brain wave function.
In the study, seven males and six females aged 21 to 35 received either 100 mg of GABA in distilled water, 100 mg of theanine (a component found in green tea known to help decrease anxiety) (3) in distilled water, or placebo (just distilled water). For 1 hour after drinking their assigned sample the patients had their brain waves measured at 0, 30, and 60 minutes for 5-minute segments during which alpha and brain waves were measured.
The researchers found that while both GABA and L-theanine increased alpha brain waves and decreased theta brain waves (which is indicative of a decrease in stress (4), GABA’s effect on alpha and theta brain waves was far more significant. Specifically, alpha waves in the GABA group were 60% higher than in the placebo group and 20% higher than in the L-theanine group. Theta waves in the GABA group were 47% lower than in the placebo group and 23% lower than in the L-theanine group.
For the researchers, “Oral administration of…GABA…works effectively within 1 hour to diminish stress, worry, anxiety, and may allow the brain to focus and concentrate better” and that “GABA administration could elevate the human immunity through its relaxant and [anxiety-relaxing] effects.”
Source: Abdou, Adham M., et al. “Relaxation and immunity enhancement effects of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) administration in humans.” Biofactors 26.3 (2006): 201-208.
©2006 – IUBMB/IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved
Posted October 16, 2009.
References:
- J. Krystal, G. Sanacora, H. Blumberg, A. Anand, D.S. Charney, G. Marek, C.N. Epperson, A. Goddard and G.F. Mason, Glutamate and GABA systems as targets for novel antidepressant and mood-stabilizing treatments, Mol Psychiatr 7 (2002), S71–S80.
- Abdou AM. Relaxation and immunity enhancement effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) administration in humans. Biofactors. 2006;26(3):201-8.
- L.R. Juneja, D. Chu, T. Okubo, Y. Nagato and H. Yokogoshi, L-theanine, a unique amino acid of green tea and its relaxation effect in humans, Trends Food Sci Techno 10 (1999), 199–204.
- J. William and W. Harry, EEG alpha activity reflects emotional and cognitive processes, Science 228 (1985), 750–752.
