We Just Want to Sleep

Have you ever heard of gamma-aminobutyric acid? If you haven't, don't feel bad; we hadn't heard about it until recently, either.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid, also known as GABA, is a dietary supplement that people will take when it's too low. GABA is naturally occurring in the body and is a neurotransmitter that blocks impulses between the nerve cells in the brain. Low levels of GABA may not be entirely obvious, as some of the causes are anxiety or mood disorders, chronic pain, and/or epilepsy - all of which can be caused by other fairly common conditions.

People tend to take GABA as an anti-anxiety or anti-convulsive. In other words, it's taken for its calming effect on the body. Like melatonin, GABA is an over-the-counter supplement that is sold in most drug stores and does not require any sort of prescription.

How does it work? Interestingly enough, GABA does not cross the blood-brain barrier like Tylenol. Instead, it enhances the catabolism of serotonin into the precursor for melatonin. Though not officially confirmed, it seems that GABA is probably involved in the synthesis of melatonin which explains how it seems to have a positive effect on sleep.

Have there been official tests on whether GABA actually does help as a sleep aid? Sort of. The research is limited at this point (mostly to rats), but the results have shown that GABA does positively impact sleep enough to where it may be worth trying if you have trouble falling asleep and you're tired of melatonin. Research also shows that low GABA levels are linked to sleep deprivation. One study has found that participants with insomnia have roughly 30% less GABA in their systems than those without insomnia. Another small study found that 300mg of GABA before bed for at least a week reduced the amount of time it took for the subjects to fall asleep. Remember, with limited and low sample size research, results should be taken "with a grain of salt." Larger and longer studies would be needed in order to provide enough statistical power to state that any sort of result has statistical significance.

Without research, it's not too far of a leap to understand why people would want to take GABA as a sleep aid. Consider the following: GABA is easy to access, and it's used to help address anxiety and stress (among other things). What are some of the leading causes of lack of sleep? Stress, anxiety, and having an overactive brain. An added bonus is that because it promotes the natural sleep cycle, it more than likely will not leave you feeling groggy or fatigued the next day. What's the catch? Well, there are some side effects to taking GABA, but it's nothing like melatonin poisoning. Some consumers have reported abdominal pain and headaches. There were also a small number of people who reported daytime drowsiness after taking GABA as well.

As with everything else, please consult your doctor prior to taking it. The more you know!

For the latest in news, don't miss our podcast at https://www.arbitragetrade.com/podcasts/