About GABA

γ-aminobutyric acid is a compound with the chemical formula C₄H₉NO₂, also known as 4-aminobutyric acid (GABA for short). It is an amino acid that exists widely in vertebrates, plants and microorganisms. γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an important central nervous system inhibitory neurotransmitter with good water solubility and thermal stability. It has been confirmed that GABA, as a small molecular weight non-protein amino acid, is safe to eat and can be used in the production of beverages and other foods. Studies have shown that intake of a certain amount of GABA has physiological effects such as improving sleep quality and lowering blood pressure.

Source and Application

The content of GABA in plant tissues is extremely low, usually between 0.3 and 32.5 μmol/g. It has been reported in the literature that the enrichment of GABA in plants is related to the stress response experienced by plants. When subjected to stress such as hypoxia, heat shock, cold shock, mechanical damage, and salt stress, it will lead to rapid accumulation of GABA. It has become a research hotspot to process plant food raw materials into GABA-rich functional products after being treated with certain stress methods or through microbial fermentation to increase the GABA content in the body. As a new functional factor, GABA has been widely used in the food industry. Foods developed from ingredients such as GABA-rich germinated brown rice, soybeans, and broad beans are already on the market.

Dosage allowed
 

Although the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) allows GABA to be added to food and stipulates that the dietary intake limit of GABA is 550mg/d, its main functional properties still need to be verified by strict population test results. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) pointed out that adding GABA to food is safe according to the results of toxicology experiments. The scope of use includes beverages, coffee, tea and chewing gum, etc., but it is not allowed to be added to baby food, meat products or meat-containing products. . The Ministry of Health of China announced No. 12 in 2009 that the intake of GABA should not exceed 500mg/d, and the scope of use is beverages, cocoa products, chocolate and its beverages, candies, baked goods and puffed foods, but it cannot be added to baby food.

Application:

A good night's sleep is essential for maintaining the physical and mental health of the human body. The sedative-hypnotics currently used to treat insomnia generally have certain safety hazards, which limit their application. The active ingredients in some food and medicinal and edible plants can act on the central nervous system of the human body to improve sleep quality, and the way of taking it is in line with people's daily eating habits, with high safety, and is an effective alternative for improving mild sleep disorders.
According to the judgment basis for sleep-improving health food in the "Technical Specifications for Inspection and Evaluation of Health Food", the compound preparation of casein hydrolyzate and gamma-aminobutyric acid has a certain sleep-improving effect.

In recent years, the research and development of foods rich in γ-aminobutyric acid has become a hot research topic at home and abroad. .γ-aminobutyric acid (γ-amino butyric acid, GABA) is an important functional non-protein amino acid. It has biological functions such as enhancing brain vitality, calming the nerves, regulating hormone secretion, improving lipid metabolism, and lowering blood pressure. Therefore, the development and application of GABA in food has broad prospects.

The role and efficacy of γ-aminobutyric acid mainly include the following aspects:
1. Anti-anxiety, anti-depression, relieve stress, regulate emotions, relieve mental tension, and promote nerve stability. γ-aminobutyric acid can combine information related to anxiety, reach the center of the brain, and have a regulating effect on human autonomic nerves. Improve and develop personal expressiveness;
2. It has the effect of improving sleep and helping to promote sleep. A sufficient amount of γ-aminobutyric acid can make people enter a deep sleep state. It has a regulating effect on the situation where it is easy to think wildly and the brain can't stop. It can calm the brain and is natural. brain tranquilizers;
3. Improve brain vitality, promote cerebral blood flow, increase the activity of glucose phosphatase, increase the production of acetylcholine, expand blood vessels to increase blood flow, increase oxygen supply, and promote brain metabolism;
4. Others: Improve liver and kidney functions, and also have the effect of relieving alcohol and lowering blood pressure.