Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a natural active ingredient widely distributed in plants and animals.GABA is an important inhibitory neurotransmitter that has been studied in depth, which participates in a variety of metabolic activities and has high physiological activity.

Research in neurophysiology and neurology has shown that GABA is an important active substance. In the human brain, although GABA can be self-produced, the accumulation of GABA becomes very difficult with the increase of age and mental stress.

With the improvement of the quality of life, people’s requirements for food are no longer satisfied with the pure pursuit of nutritional value and taste, and begin to pursue the prevention of lifestyle diseases, etc., to improve health and improve the quality of life, etc. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) has a variety of physiological effects, and is one of the hotspots of the recent scholars’ research and attention. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) has a variety of physiological effects, is one of the recent research and attention of scholars, nutrition experts in various countries are strongly recommended to the public GABA-rich health food.

Physiological Activity of GABA

GABA is an inhibitory transmitting substance in the central nervous system, which is one of the most important neurotransmitters in the biological brain tissue, and its role is to reduce the activity of neurons, preventing nerve cells from overheating.GABA can combine with the brain receptor of anxiolytics and activate it, and then synergistically act with some other substances to prevent the information related to anxiety from reaching the center of the brain instructions, therefore, GABA can fundamentally . Therefore, GABA can fundamentally calm the nerves, thus providing an anti-anxiety effect.

Main functions of γ-aminobutyric acid

According to a large number of researches at home and abroad in recent years, it is confirmed that the main functions of γ-aminobutyric acid are twofold.
Tranquilizing the mind and improving brain vitality
Gamma-aminobutyric acid is an inhibitory transmitting substance in the central nervous system. Through the central nervous system, it promotes vasodilatation and achieves the effect of tranquilizing the mind and promoting sleep. Meanwhile, γ-aminobutyric acid can effectively improve cerebral blood circulation, increase oxygen supply, promote brain metabolism, and restore brain cell function and vitality.

Lowering blood pressure
Gamma-aminobutyric acid can effectively promote vasodilatation, increase blood flow, increase oxygen supply, promote metabolism, thus lowering blood pressure. Red Yeast Rice has lipid-lowering and blood pressure-lowering effects. Its lipid-lowering factor is lovastatin (Monacolin-K), and its blood pressure-lowering factor is γ-aminobutyric acid. It has been reported that the effective antihypertensive component of traditional Chinese medicine, such as Astragalus, is γ-aminobutyric acid.

Research and development trend of γ-aminobutyric acid

A number of foods containing γ-helicobutyric acid are known to be available in domestic and international markets as functional foods for brain health and blood pressure reduction, most commonly in Japan. Currently in the Japanese market, γ-aminobutyric acid is used to produce blood pressure-lowering pastries, cookies, seasonings, tea and other functional foods. Recently, there are several companies, a new listing of health products containing γ-aminobutyric acid chocolate, claiming that the consumption of this chocolate on the human spirit has a relaxing effect, well by European businessmen’s attention.

A drug approval and a GRAS conclusion for a food use are different regulatory questions. Any claim for a GABA preparation must identify the specific substance, intended use and supporting record. See the FDA explanation of food additives and GRAS ingredients.

In 2009, the Ministry of Health of the People’s Republic of China approved γ-aminobutyric acid as a new resource food, and the announcement stipulated that only γ-aminobutyric acid produced by the fermentation method can be used in food.

In addition to pharmaceutical raw materials, γ-aminobutyric acid can also be used as an auxiliary brain, lower blood pressure, functional ingredients, used in a variety of functional foods, there will be broad prospects for development. GABA as an active factor, with lower blood pressure, anti-depression, enhance brain function and long-term memory, diuretic, liver, kidney and other physiological activities, its application in functional foods will be very promising.

Correction: 10 September 2026. Removed wording that conflated drug approval with food-use status. This is a targeted claim correction; other historical statements still require their own supporting evidence.