New research published in November 2015: Study of GABA in Healthy Volunteers: Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics shows potential benefits for diabetes:
Our data show that GABA is rapidly absorbed and tolerated in human beings; its endocrine effects, exemplified by increasing islet hormonal secretion, suggest potential therapeutic benefits for diabetes.
This is very interesting because they conclude that GABA is rapidly absorbed and tolerated in human beings. This is very encouraging because we often hear that taking oral GABA will have no impact.
Here are additional details about the study:
Twelve subjects were subjected to an open-labeled, three-period trial involving sequential oral administration of placebo, 2g GABA once, and 2g GABA three times/day for 7 days, with a 7-day washout between each period.
Based on my work with anxious clients, even using 2g of GABA once a day is considered a high dose, especially if they don’t have low GABA levels. Because of this I’m not surprised at some of the side-effects:
Subjects with repeated dosing showed an elevated incidence of minor adverse events in comparison to placebo or the single dosing period, most notably transient discomforts such as dizziness and sore throat.
I have my anxious clients do a GABA trial in order to figure out their ideal dose. I recommend starting with around 125 mg GABA a few times a day.
In this 2012 study: Oral intake of γ-aminobutyric acid affects mood and activities of central nervous system during stressed condition induced by mental tasks study participants used only 100mg of GABA and saw mental stress reduction effects within 30 minutes.
Anxiety is more prevalent in diabetes than we realize and it’s something I seldom hear discussed:
- More than 25% of the diabetic women in this 2015 study done in India reported high levels of anxiety
- This 2015 study found that severe anxiety in early pregnancy is more frequent in Brazilian women with diabetes
- In this 2015 Australian study half of the women with diabetes experienced an anxiety disorder
Diabetes is a growing and serious health issue. As Dr. Mark Hyman, author of The Blood Sugar Solution shares in this valuable blog post on 7 Steps to Reverse Obesity and Diabetes
What disease affects EVERY other American and one in four kids? Type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes. Type 2 diabetes in America has tripled since the 1980s, and researchers estimate one in three Americans will have diabetes by mid-century. More than one-third of American adults are obese.
I’d like to highlight two of his 7 excellent steps: Pull the Sugar and Control Stress Levels.
GABA is an amino acid that makes both of these steps much easier to achieve! GABA stops sugar cravings so you don’t need to use willpower. And GABA ends physical anxiety so you don’t have to manage it. Make the food changes, take the nutrients and do the yoga Dr. Hyman recommends, but why not add GABA too?
You can read more about Melissa’s success with GABA in this blog: GABA for ending sugar cravings (and anxiety and insomnia)
So here we have the amino amazing acid GABA that:
- we know reduces and often eliminates sugar cravings completely
- calms the anxious mind and reduces stress within 5 to 30 minutes
- has the potential of offering therapeutic benefits for diabetes
Pretty powerful!
Be sure to check out the other 5 tips that Dr. Hyman offers and do share if you have seen benefits from GABA – for anxiety/stress and sugar cravings. Do let us know if you also have/had diabetes and noticed any improvements in your blood sugar labs.
If you’re a practitioner and use GABA with your patients/clients with diabetes, please share too.
Which brand of GABA do you recommend? Or a few you like. Thanks.
Michelle
You can find a selection here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/amino-acids-pyroluria-supplements/
I only recommend GABA, some people like pharmaGABA (and benefit from it) and I don’t ever think anyone should use phenibut (which many companies call GABA)
Thanks Trudy!
Checked out gaba calm. Sounded great until I looked at the ingredients: sorbitol and mannitol are listed as first ingredients. These fake sugars can wreak havoc on your system. Also natural orange flavor… Heaven knows what that is. Too bad, sounded great. Any other suggestions?
Karen
Despite that it’s a very effective product since sublingual GABA is best for most people. But I agree we could do better. I list other GABA products here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/amino-acids-pyroluria-supplements/ – opening the capsule is ideal.
Just a FYI sorbitol and mannitol are not fake sugars but sugar alcohols that don’t affect blood sugar. Very large amounts of sugar alcohols can’t cause lose stool but none of my clients have reported this from this product since it contains a very small amount.
Hi Trudy,
Thank you for the work you are doing and the wonderful information you provide. I am always happy to see a new post from you in my email box! Following your advice to go slowly, I added 1/4 of a GABA tablet in the morning for anxiety and have found it quite helpful. I am working on resolving estrogen dominance right now and feel tryptophan may be the amino I will try next to help with ruminating and obsessive-type thoughts. Once I find a dosage that works for me, will I need to take a break from the aminos to keep them working properly or can they be taken for extended periods of time? Does GABA build-up in the body where it could potentially cause an issue?
Kathy
Great to hear your good results! Folks should not need them long-term but if this is not the case there is no need to take a break
Thank you!
Hi Trudy
I stumbled across your website in search of information on anxiety and couldn’t help but read the comments and your replies. Wow it is so refreshing to find someone who truly and genuinely wants to help others. You compassion flows through.
I got diagnosed with GAD a few years back. I am now 41 but when I look back at earlier years I see a pattern. I have had 3 major panic attacks. 2 required medication which I suffered terrible side effects and had to quit.
My current issue: I am having some sort of prolonged episode of anxiety which is going on for several months. My mind is constantly racing, my heart pounding , trouble falling asleep and when I do , I wake too early with a major attack of fear and heart racing. hands shake too. I’ve lost appetite and lost weight.pinch my lips excessively until they bleed.i have social anxiety and don’t want to leave the house unless it’s to work. Feel like crying all the time. In desperation I have been taking my sister Lyrica to help me sleep :((
I’ve just order your book. Can’t wait to read it and finally be able to help myself.
Prescription medication is a no for me so I want to try the amino acids. How do I figure out which one to take? I am in the D.C area.. Do u recommend any nutritionist out this way?
Sorry for being so lengthy.
BTW. I listened to one of your videos and nearly jumped out of my chair.. I recognized your accent. I am from South Africa too :)))
Hi Nesh from South Africa
I’m so sorry to hear about the anxiety. There are many biochemical causes of anxiety and I encourage you to read the book and start with the basics first (food, gluten, sugar, caffeine etc) and then look into the supplements like GABA, tryptophan and the pyroluria protocol etc
Here is a blog with causes that go deeper than those covered in the book https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/60-nutritional-biochemical-causes-of-anxiety/
Nesh, have you had your thyroid checked? Just to r/o Graves’ disease or other form of hyperthyroidism…
I was diagnosed type 2 diabetes two years ago and I has been anxious all the time. It is necessary to keep diet and do the regular body check.
Hi Trudy. Grateful for your Gaba research. I am now able to tolerate 250mg at night and finding it a fabulously useful sleep aid. I am still finding some anxiety creeps in during the arvo. Q1-To Deal with arvo anxiety is it advisable to take a second low dose at lunch OR when anxiety recurres? Also, i feel as though i have already become dependant on Gaba and wonder if for example i went away overnight and forgot it…would an anxiety relapse be significant? Is it addictive? Thanks so much.