GABA

[Bodhi]

Maybe there is allready a thread about GABA , but i cannot find information abou what GABA is, what it does and when it is usefull as a supplement...

Is it possible to lower high TSH with a GABA supp?

And what is the relationship with Pregnenelone or other hormones...

I have high TSH and wanna make sure it's not coming from the HPA axis..i have a very restless too mich thinking mind and some therapist say that i i'd take GABA it would calm me so my TSH would go down too...

Bodhi

 

[marcar72]

From what I've read supplemental GABA doesn't cross the Blood Brain Barrier. So the best one can do is ensure they're getting GABA promoting nutrition.

Theanine is supposedly good for GABA production but I'm not sure of the mechanism. Glycine is also very similiar to GABA and Ray Peat thinks there may be some crossover of their receptors in the brain. That's about all I know in regards to the matter... :2cents

http://raypeat.com/articles/articles/gelatin.shtml

 

[Bodhi]

From what I've read supplemental GABA doesn't cross the Blood Brain Barrier. So the best one can do is ensure they're getting GABA promoting nutrition.

Theanine is supposedly good for GABA production but I'm not sure of the mechanism. Glycine is also very similiar to GABA and Ray Peat thinks there may be some crossover of their receptors in the brain. That's about all I know in regards to the matter... :2cents

http://raypeat.com/articles/articles/gelatin.shtml

Do you think GABA or one of the other substance you mention will raise serotonin?

 

[marcar72]

From what I've read Theanine seems to actually reduce brain serotonin and increases brain dopamine.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9614715

Just one study there and some seem to indicate that Theanine increases serotonin such as this one:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17182482

If it does raise serotonin I think the benefits of Theanine still outweigh that... :2cents

Gelatin (glycine) should lower serotonin if you follow the logic that the gelatin replaces some other protein sources that are way higher in tryptophan.

If glycine plugs up some of the shared receptors as Ray Peat has speculated, that would leave more free GABA to utilize the GABA specific receptors in the brain... :2cents

EDIT: Haidut has posted a lot of topics on the supposed benefits of Theanine so it'd be good to check them out.

 

[scarlettsmum]

this is an old thread, but I too would like to know more about GABA. Anyone? I am looking at different amino acids at the moment that would calm me down and enable me to cope better with coffee induced stress as well as general coping with stress and I found this on iherb. Besides the fillers (silica, i know!) what do you think of it and the dosages?

Other Ingredients
Sorbitol, stearic acid, modified cellulose gum and silica.

Source Naturals, Theanine Serene, 60 Tablets

Supplement Facts:

Serving Size: 2 Tablets
Servings Per Container: 30

Magnesium (as magnesium chelate) 300 mg 75%
GABA 500 mg †
Taurine 500 mg †
L-Theanine 200 mg †
Holy Basil Leaf Extract 100 mg †