Expert: Imran R. - 7/25/2006

Question
HELLO SIR
I WANT TO KNOW THAT WHETHER GABA(GAMMA AMINO BUTYRIC ACID) CAN BE USED TO TREAT CNS DISORDERS LIKE ANXIETY IF GIVEN AS DIETARY SUPPLEMENT?AS SUCH IT CANT CROSS BBB BUT IF GIVEN IN A COMBINATION OR WITH USE OF TECHNIQUE WHICH  INCREASES ITS BRAIN PERMEABILITY THEN WILL U ADVISE ANYBODY TO USE IT OR NOT ?

Answer
Dear Reet,

Thank you for your letter.

Gamma aminobutyric acid does have a relationship to panic/anxiety disorders. In a study at Yale people with panic disorder were found to have about a 22% reduction in total occipital cortex GABA than people without panic disorder.

Supplementation therefore makes sense. I myself have never used nor recommended GABA to others for the specific condition as i lean more towards solving such disorders with high quality nutrition replenishment.

I would rather one gets a wide spectrum of nourishment rather than a targeted one.

Hope that is helpful.

Best wishes,

Imran