Home Ingredients GABACare® (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid)
Sleep Health

GABACare® (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid)

Evidence Level
Limited
1 Clinical Trial
3 Documented Benefits
2/5 Evidence Score

GABACare® is a form of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) made by natural fermentation. GABA produced inside the body is its main calming neurotransmitter, but GABA taken by mouth crosses the blood-brain barrier poorly, so whether a supplement actually reaches the brain is genuinely disputed. The only study cited on this page is one small randomized single-blind crossover trial of generic GABA, not GABACare, which looked at sleep and at how much GABA got into the blood. Getting into the blood is not the same as getting into the brain. No cited study measured brain-wave activity, relaxation, or stress.

Studied Dose Commonly around 100 to 200 mg per day on product labels. This range reflects what products contain rather than a dose established by repeated human trials.
Active Compound Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), produced by natural lactic-acid fermentation.

Benefits

Relaxation

No brain-wave (EEG) study appears in this page's reference list, so the claim that oral GABA raises calming alpha waves and lowers beta waves is not supported by the research cited here. The single cited study measured sleep and blood levels of GABA, not brain-wave activity.

Supported by Trial 1

Easier sleep

One small randomized single-blind crossover study in healthy adults reported that oral GABA shortened the time it took to fall asleep and improved some sleep measures compared with placebo. It tested generic GABA rather than GABACare, it was single-blind rather than double-blind, and it has not been repeated in a larger trial, so this is early evidence rather than a settled effect.

Supported by Trial 1

Stress: not supported by the cited research

GABA is often marketed for everyday stress, but none of the research cited on this page measured stress or anxiety, so there is no evidence here to support that use.

Supported by Trial 1

Mechanism of action

1

Inhibitory neurotransmission

GABA made inside the body is its primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, quieting over-excited nerve signaling. This describes the body's own GABA. It does not show that GABA swallowed as a supplement does the same thing in the brain.

2

Gut-brain and autonomic effects

Because oral GABA crosses into the brain poorly, any calming effect is thought to act partly through nerves in the gut and a shift toward the body's rest-and-digest state. This is a proposed explanation, not something the cited study tested.

Clinical trials

1
Oral GABA and Sleep: One Small Single-Blind Human Study
PubMed

Randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study of the effect of oral GABA on sleep and on its absorption into the blood in humans. It tested generic GABA, not GABACare. (Yamatsu et al. 2016, Food Science and Biotechnology)

A small group of healthy adults.

Oral GABA shortened the time to fall asleep and improved some sleep measures compared with placebo, and GABA levels rose in the blood. Because the study was small and only single-blind, and because rising blood levels do not prove GABA reached the brain, the result should be treated as preliminary.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Generally well tolerated in short studies, with side effects uncommon at typical doses. Long term safety has not been well studied.
Mild digestive upset is occasionally reported.
Discontinue if any unusual reaction occurs.

Important Drug interactions

Sedatives or sleep medication: a possible added calming effect, so use caution and check with your doctor.
Blood pressure medication: GABA has been reported to lower blood pressure modestly, though the study cited on this page did not measure blood pressure. Monitor and check with your doctor.
Tell your doctor if pregnant or breastfeeding.

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Frequently asked questions about GABACare® (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid)

What is GABACare?

GABACare® is a form of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) made by natural fermentation. GABA produced inside the body is its main calming neurotransmitter, but GABA taken by mouth crosses the blood-brain barrier poorly, so whether a supplement actually reaches the brain is genuinely disputed.

What is GABACare used for?

GABACare is researched primarily for Sleep Health. No brain-wave (EEG) study appears in this page's reference list, so the claim that oral GABA raises calming alpha waves and lowers beta waves is not supported by the research cited here.

What is the recommended dosage of GABACare?

The clinically studied dose is Commonly around 100 to 200 mg per day on product labels. This range reflects what products contain rather than a dose established by repeated human trials. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is GABACare safe, and does it have side effects?

For most healthy adults, GABACare is well tolerated at studied doses. Reported effects can include: Generally well tolerated in short studies, with side effects uncommon at typical doses. Long term safety has not been well studied. Mild digestive upset is occasionally reported. It may also interact with some medications. GABACare is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does GABACare interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Sedatives or sleep medication: a possible added calming effect, so use caution and check with your doctor. Blood pressure medication: GABA has been reported to lower blood pressure modestly, though the study cited on this page did not measure blood pressure. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for GABACare?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for GABACare as Limited (2 out of 5). It is backed by 1 clinical trial and 1 cited reference summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(1 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Yamatsu A, Yamashita Y, Pandharipande T, et al. Effect of oral γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) administration on sleep and its absorption in humans. Food Sci Biotechnol. 2016;25(2):547-551..PubMedUsed to support: Small randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study of generic oral GABA in humans, measuring sleep and absorption of GABA into the blood. It did not test GABACare, and it did not measure relaxation, brain waves, stress, or whether GABA reached the brain.