GABA, otherwise known as Gamma Amino Butyric Acid, has been popular in food and beverage fortification in Japan for quite some time. Known as the brain’s calming agent, it is becoming increasingly popular with food and beverage manufacturers in the U.S. and elsewhere, where the market for cognitive enhancement products supporting such areas as improved mental focus, acuity and memory is wide open. GABA, a non-essential amino acid, is not found in significant amounts in foods and almost all the body’s source of GABA is synthesized. 

Our lives today are quite different from what they would have been 20 years ago. On the go-go-go, 24/7… we never slow down! In our non-stop world, our brains have become over-worked and under-nourished. A hectic and rigid schedule prompts the body with too much pressure and stress. When the body becomes preoccupied with an overabundance of work and other undertakings, the brain is the first organ to suffer as it rapidly depletes its store of energy. As a result, it’s become relatively common for people with chronic stress, anxiety or anxiety disorders to turn to prescription medications to help them “chill out,” which, in turn, can lead to an increase in mental focus and clarity because they have, for the moment, alleviated their mental fatigue. But, as consumers continue to educate themselves on the long-term advantages of taking their health and wellness into their own hands, many are becoming aware of the potential risks of extended use of prescription medications. Thus, they are increasingly turning to supplements and fortified foods and beverages to support their well-being. 

How Does GABA Work?
Overstimulation or excitation in the brain needs to be balanced with inhibition. Too much overstimulation can lead to restlessness, agitation and insomnia—all of which can greatly diminish our mental acuity. GABA is able to induce relaxation, analgesia, and sleep because it serves as a neurotransmitter that suppresses nerve cell activity in areas of the brain that are associated with anxiety. It controls the brain’s theta waves and increases endorphins, sometimes referred to as a “runners high,” which some people describe as a state of euphoria. (Endorphins are any of a group of opiate proteins with pain-relieving properties that are found naturally in the brain.) As endorphins are released, one begins to feel a sense of calm, which is sometimes referred to as the Endorphin Effect. This action in the brain enables an individual to feel more balanced, both physically and mentally, thus revitalizing the brain and paving the way for enhanced cognitive function in the areas of mental acuity, focus and memory.

Dosage in Food & Beverage Applications
Although no general recommendation is made for GABA supplementation/fortification, most research has pointed to 200 mg/day, and up to 10 g/daily. There are several applications that manufacturers may want to consider to tap into the growing cognitive function market that utilize GABA, as well as a roster of other nutrients that can contribute to enhancing the end product’s effect. These include antioxidants, carotenoids, iron, choline, ginkgo biloba, ginseng root, B vitamins, melatonin, L-tryptophan, L-theanine, and omega 3 fatty acids, just to name a few. From bars to beverages to confections, GABA can be incorporated into a premix that can help to differentiate a manufacturer’s product from the competition.