GABA powder
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thoughts???
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@sunsunsun said in GABA powder:
thoughts???
Gaba powder? Rather L-theanine or glycine; not right?
I'll give it a shot since no one has answered yet
Many sources suggest that these supplements are often complementary and can even be taken together for enhanced effects.
The main limitation of GABA powder is its poor ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. On the other side, you could have side effects like drowsiness and a difficulty to dose the right amount, variable according to mood and perception by the brain (fluctuation), with a temporary drop in blood pressure possible if you do not well anticipate (subjective feeling) and always take the same dosage.
L-theanine
L-theanine is an amino acid found in green and black tea that promotes relaxation without causing drowsiness. It is known to promote the release of other neurotransmitters, including GABA and glycine, in the brain.
It easily crosses the blood-brain barrier and generally has a better safety profile and fewer reported side effects compared to GABA.
L-theanine is generally considered a more effective individual supplement for relaxation and sleep improvement due to its superior bioavailability.
Glycine
Glycine is another inhibitory neurotransmitter that helps calm the brain and can improve sleep quality.
It is often used as a sleep aid and is generally well-regarded for its effectiveness in promoting restful sleep and enhancing cognitive function. Magnesium is often found in the glycinate form (magnesium glycinate) which is also calming. I use the last one. Both, in fact. When I feel inner tension in the stomach, I take L-theanine (225 mg, Organika) and magnesium bisglycinate 1.5 g x 2.
Begin slowly to reach 10 g pure glycine, if you choose the pure form. 20% assimilation, according to Haidut (study)
Conclusion
L-theanine is generally seen as a more reliable choice than GABA powder alone because it is proven to cross the blood-brain barrier more effectively. Glycine is another effective additional option for sleep and relaxation, working through a similar inhibitory mechanism. It’s better to choose a synergistic effect: it works better together than either supplement alone, especially for improving sleep quality and duration.
And of course, you don’t anticipate with magnesium. No effect if you feel fine, except you should target Mg between 300 – 420 mg.
I’d add one more advice: Move and walk 20’ outside, with a slow stomach breath. I’d get inform on EFT or sophrology. EFT is fine. I can give a link to explain why and how. You can't reach an appropriate balance only with chemistry. See it as an adjuvant, a crutch to move forward more easily and progress with fine staples. And we don't question everything if we relapse. This will happen. We adjust, we adapt according to how we feel… Stay steady and positive and it will do the job. I hope so. -
@sunsunsun It's okay, it can make you feel really fuzzy though.
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@LucH the lack of obvious BBB crossing apparently doesn't negate GABA effects , the basic reason I say that is that gut bacteria producing GABA have been measured to have distinct effect on whole organism
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@sunsunsun I think the trademarked pharmaGABA at least has some evidence behind it that shows it can exert parasympathetic action, possibly via the vagus nerve.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30263304/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16971751/
https://www.tesble.com/10.1002/biof.5520260305The latter study found that 100 mg PharmaGABA produced better results than l-theanine (200mg) as regards alpha brain waves and beta brain waves, though both interventions produced favorable changes.
GABA also prevented the decrease in Immunoglobulin A levels (a marker of immune suppression) when subjects were exposed to a stressor (walking a pedestrian bridge when they were afraid of heights) compared to placebo.
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@jamezb46 apparently the pharmagaba is a psyop and normal synthetic gaba has the same effect. pharmagaba is produced by microbial fermentation which shouldn't change how the actual end-product works. a gaba researcher actually called them out on it in a submission to a journal or whatever. microbial fermentation to produce pharmaceuticals/supps is actually neat and i have nothing against it.
