Can the amino acid GABA be used as a supplement to ease the visceral (or abdominal) pain and hypersensitivity of colitis? And at the same time help to ease physical anxiety/tension, spasms and even reduce inflammation? A new animal study suggests this may be possible, with the authors stating “these results raise the promising possibility that GABA … may be an effective therapeutic strategy for the management of symptoms associated with colitis.”
Clinically we see that GABA does ease visceral pain in many digestive conditions and there is much evidence that it eases physical anxiety too. I share my personal experiences and feedback from someone in my community below.
What is especially exciting about this paper is that it’s specific for colitis and many markers of inflammation are favorably impacted by GABA supplementation too. The authors do state that human studies are needed to confirm this research. I look forward to these human studies and until then I say let’s use what we see clinically, based on symptoms and a trial of GABA.
Here is the paper: Experimental colitis-induced visceral hypersensitivity is attenuated by GABA treatment and the overview of their hypothesis:
Ulcerative colitis is linked with inflammation of the large intestine due to an overactive response of the colon-immune system. Ulcerative colitis is associated with weight loss, rectal bleeding, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
Given that γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) suppresses immune cell activity and the excitability of colonic afferents, and that there is a decrease in colonic GABA during ulcerative colitis, we hypothesized that ulcerative colitis pain is due to a decrease in the inhibition of colonic afferents. Thus, restoring GABA in the colon will attenuate inflammatory hypersensitivity.
Colonic afferents are neurons that “carry information from sensory receptors of … organs” like the colon “to the central nervous system (i.e. brain and spinal cord).” They are involved in the perception of pain.
The study and favorable outcomes
They tested their hypothesis in a mouse model of colitis and GABA was given at the same time.
What they found is that GABA reduced the “increase in the colon permeability” i.e. prevented leaky gut; reduced the “clinical progression of colitis (disease activity index or DAI)”; reduced the “colon histological score” (or measure of disease activity in inflammatory bowel diseases) and reduced visceral hypersensitivity (or abdominal pain).
There were also favorable changes in inflammatory markers: “GABA inhibited the …increase in the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-12 (IL-12), and increased the expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in the colon tissue.”
Their conclusion is as follows: “These data suggest that increasing gastrointestinal levels of GABA may be useful for the treatment of colitis.”
My GABA visceral pain story
I have chronic SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) and found that sublingual GABA helped when I would get that awful and painful belly bloat. When my SIBO was at its worst I would be in pain all night, tossing and turning and unable to sleep because of the belly distension/bloat.
It was often a combined approach of sublingual GABA, Iberogast and topical peppermint and lavender essential oil on my bloated belly.
More recently I found that the topical GABA called Somnium, rubbed onto my bloated belly, helped tremendously too. You can read more about Somnium here.
(My SIBO is much much better now, since I’ve been using berberine, but that is a topic for another blog post.)
GABA: stress, anxiety and visceral pain
As you know, I consider myself a GABA girl and it also helps ease my physical anxiety.
The above animal study doesn’t address the impacts of GABA on anxiety but there is research showing that “in concert with chronic visceral pain, there is a high comorbidity with stress-related psychiatric disorders including anxiety and depression.
Evidence suggests that long term stress facilitates pain perception and sensitizes pain pathways, leading to a feed-forward cycle promoting chronic visceral pain disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).”
It makes total sense that GABA can play a role in addressing all of this for me – the visceral pain and IBS, the physical anxiety and sleep issues too.
GABA eases Gail’s painful gut spasms and reduces her stress
Neither myself or Gail have colitis and yet GABA helps us both with SIBO and the visceral pain we experience, and the associated anxiety. Gail shares this: “I’ve had diarrheal IBS for decades, recently diagnosed SIBO. Missed a lot of work with pain spasms and diarrhea almost every work morning. I had a phenomenal experience with my first dose of GABA at bedtime and like a miracle I’m pain-free in the morning.
It’s a huge huge improvement! (unless there’s a major stressor in my life like when my mom recently passed away)
I also take GABA at work if I anticipate a stressful situation. I love that I am still sharp mentally on this.”
A few GABA product options – a sublingual, a powder and a cream
Some of the GABA products I recommend include Source Naturals GABA Calm lozenges and Now GABA Powder. You can purchase these from my online store (Fullscript – only available to US customers – use this link to set up an account).
If you’re not in the US, Source Naturals GABA Calm lozenges and Now GABA Powder are available via iherb (use this link to save 5%).
Somnium GABA Cream is available with international shipping. Click here to get Somnium GABA Cream (and use my coupon code TRUDY15 to save 15%).
Additional resources when you are new to using GABA and other amino acids as supplements
As always, I use the symptoms questionnaire to figure out if low GABA or other neurotransmitter imbalances may be an issue for you.
If you suspect low levels of any of the neurotransmitters and do not yet have my book, The Antianxiety Food Solution – How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings, I highly recommend getting it and reading it before jumping in and using amino acids on your own so you are knowledgeable. And be sure to share it with the practitioner/health team you or your loved one is working with.
There is an entire chapter on the amino acids and they are discussed throughout the book in the sections on gut health, gluten, blood sugar control (this is covered in an entire chapter too), sugar cravings, anxiety and mood issues.
The book doesn’t include product names (per the publisher’s request) so this blog, The Antianxiety Food Solution Amino Acid and Pyroluria Supplements, lists the amino acids that I use with my individual clients and those in my group programs (over and above the few I mentioned above).
If, after reading this blog and my book, you don’t feel comfortable figuring things out on your own (i.e. doing the symptoms questionnaire and respective amino acids trials), a good place to get help is the GABA QuickStart Program (if you have low GABA symptoms too). This is a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance and community support.
If you are a practitioner, join us in The Balancing Neurotransmitters: the Fundamentals program. This is also a paid online/virtual program with an opportunity to interact with me and other practitioners who are also using the amino acids.
Wrapping up and your feedback
I do always appreciate questions and feedback like this so keep your questions and comments coming. I do hope my sharing my experience with GABA for visceral pain and this other feedback has been helpful to you.
While this blog is specific to the research on GABA for colitis, I feel comfortable saying the use of GABA could also be considered for belly pain/visceral pain in someone with a diagnosis such as Crohn’s disease (which like colitis is also classed an IBD/inflammatory bowel disease) or IBS/SIBO (irritable bowel syndrome/small intestinal bacterial overgrowth).
How has GABA helped reduce your visceral pain? (please share if you have colitis or Crohn’s disease or IBS/SIBO or another digestive issue).
Has GABA also helped to reduce your physical anxiety, tension and self-medicating with sugar or alcohol in order to relax?
If yes, which products have helped, how much and do you find swallowed or capsule opened or powder is more effective for your needs?
If you’re a practitioner do you use GABA with your colitis clients/patients?
And please let me know if it’s helpful that I’m now including product recommendations and where to get them?
Feel free to share and ask your questions below.
