GABA and GH levels?

[cabster21]

I've used GABA to aid sleep, and read it also has many health benifits. I've just recently read though, that if taken about 30 minutes before exercise, it can boost GH levels. One report claiming up to 550% from taking 5g before. Is this true?

Quite an old article, but it's the first I've actually seen of this.

http://www.ast-ss.com/articles/article.asp?AID=195

Sorry if this has been asked before, all i found was people saying it gave them dodgy dreams.

[pu12en12g]

I've used GABA to aid sleep, and read it also has many health benifits. I've just recently read though, that if taken about 30 minutes before exercise, it can boost GH levels. One report claiming up to 550% from taking 5g before. Is this true?

Quite an old article, but it's the first I've actually seen of this.

http://www.ast-ss.com/articles/article.asp?AID=195

Sorry if this has been asked before, all i found was people saying it gave them dodgy dreams.

More research is needed:
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=858973

[cabster21]

Oh right cheers. They seem pretty certain, to the extent they recommend it. I might as well give it a try.

[pu12en12g]

Oh right cheers. They seem pretty certain, to the extent they recommend it. I might as well give it a try.

Yeah it's so cheap I think it's worth a try... just don't expect steroid-like gains.

Will you keep us updated on your results (like maybe at the 1 month mark or something ?)

[cabster21]

Yeah can do. I've got some GABA anyway, as I say I've used it for sleeping. So I still have a tub lying around. I'll take 5g 30 minutes before I workout.

[chainsaw]

Universal Kits sells a product called pght it is a transdermal form of GABA plus some other stuff, it supposed to be really good.

[pu12en12g]

Yeah can do. I've got some GABA anyway, as I say I've used it for sleeping. So I still have a tub lying around. I'll take 5g 30 minutes before I workout.

I would taper up to that gradually.

[Skigazzi]

Universal Kits sells a product called pght it is a transdermal form of GABA plus some other stuff, it supposed to be really good.

I dont see how a transdermal GABA would work any differently than oral GABA, neither will cross the blood brain barrier??

[cabster21]

I would taper up to that gradually.

I used to take 8g on some nights. I took 3g before training today. What would be best? Obviously I don't want the drowsiness effects. As I quite often work after training.

[my_whey]

I used to take 8g on some nights. I took 3g before training today. What would be best? Obviously I don't want the drowsiness effects. As I quite often work after training.

Why would anyone take 8g when the reccomend dosage is usually 3, sometimes 5?

I took my first serving last night and felt tingling all over and red... guess that is a side effect...

slept well, though.

[cabster21]

Yeah see i don't get any effect. 5g is far to little. I've since been told you can easily take 20g. I barely get the tingle feeling at around 8g. That's why you would take more. I think with GABA it's more of a personal thing, and how your body reacts to it. Maybe I haven't been taking it on an empty stomach, I don't know. But it seems the norm to take more.

[tbared]

Not to burst any bubbles, but as has already been stated GABA, does not cross the BBB. Although someindivduals state that they have noticed improvement in it at this point there is no data suggesting the possiblity. In addition, GABA taken orally might actualy be degraded in the gut into glutamic acid before it is even absorbed. Even studies using sublingual GABA have only noted moderate increase in GABA(rat models of course) increase in GABA in the CNS. Only modified GABA has actually been shown to enter the CNS in concentrations large enough to see clinical results, basically then were looking at a controlled substance at that point. GABA derivetives can prove more useful at manipulating GABA concentraiotns in the brain but now were talking about contrloed substances again(GHB). As for GH, GH is pulstile. There is only very little(almost non-measurable) tonic release througout the day, not until REM sleep has been acheived does data suggest that there is any apprecialbe release of of GH. Yes exercise does increase GH release, but not in any large amounts until sleep again.

Sorry, just weedin through the hype

[pu12en12g]

I used to take 8g on some nights. I took 3g before training today. What would be best? Obviously I don't want the drowsiness effects. As I quite often work after training.

Holy ****

[cabster21]

I quite like the feeling you get. But need to take a fair bit. I can't believe the tub says to take 1g. I don't see how that would do anything. I'm about 210lbs whether that makes a difference or not.

I've since been told, that it probably won't have an effect on GH levels, but can help me concentrate more whilst training. We'll see...

[reflexions]

Why would anyone take 8g when the reccomend dosage is usually 3, sometimes 5?

I took my first serving last night and felt tingling all over and red... guess that is a side effect...

slept well, though.

Because it isn't the highest dose. The highest dose is about 15g I think. I use about 10g.

It taste like chemically enhanced ****. If there is a transdermal gaba, someone please post a link.

[CharlotteFreak]

Because it isn't the highest dose. The highest dose is about 15g I think. I use about 10g.

It taste like chemically enhanced ****. If there is a transdermal gaba, someone please post a link.

Heres your link bro: http://www.universalkits.com/univers...a-prd-298.html

[Broshious]

What about compounds like Phenibut, and Picamilon that do cross the BBB?

[pogue]

What about compounds like Phenibut, and Picamilon that do cross the BBB?

Picamilion is supposed to be a modification to GABA to cross the BBB, but it's unsure whether it does. Phenibut activates GABA receptors directly, but it's effects on hGH is unknown.

Either way, as mentioned, an hGH increase will not do much either way - for muscle gains or fat loss.

[pu12en12g]

... an hGH increase will not do much either way - for muscle gains or fat loss.

Some interesting feedback coming in suggests otherwise... similar to the carnitine / ALCAR situation.

[pogue]

Some interesting feedback coming in suggests otherwise... similar to the carnitine / ALCAR situation.

Feedback from direct users of hGH or possibly stimulated natural production through ______? Which carnitine/alcar situaiton? The fat loss model or the before bed GH increase model?

[pu12en12g]

possibly stimulated natural production through ______?

In summary, the presence of multiple GABA receptor subtypes in GH cells, with different properties and GABA sensitivities, suggests that GABA may have several functions in these cells (e.g. regulation of chloride conductance, membrane potential, control of Ca2 i concentrations, modulation of hormone secretion). Our present results are in accordance with recent reports indicating new roles of neurotransmitters, including GABA, in various nonneuronal tissues.

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/attach...4&d=1130945774

[Skigazzi]

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/attach...4&d=1130945774

Applying it directly to slices of rat brain is a great way to sneek around the blood brain barrier , unfortunatley we dont have that option.

There seems to be no evidence that GABA passed through the BBB. Other gabagerics like theanine / phenibut / picamillon do however, but dont seem to produce the desired effects on gh.

I think outside of injecting a few i.u.'s throughout the day, there is no (current) method of significantlly increasing hgh...

[pu12en12g]

Applying it directly to slices of rat brain is a great way to sneek around the blood brain barrier , unfortunatley we dont have that option.

There seems to be no evidence that GABA passed through the BBB. Other gabagerics like theanine / phenibut / picamillon do however, but dont seem to produce the desired effects on gh.

I think outside of injecting a few i.u.'s throughout the day, there is no (current) method of significantlly increasing hgh...

I think any increase MAY be significant over a extended period of time. It's actually the PRICE of GABA that makes it such a interesting supplement.

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise: Volume 35(5) Supplement 1 May 2003 p S271
THE EFFECTS OF GAMMA AMINOBUTYRIC ACID ON GROWTH HORMONE SECRETION AT REST AND FOLLOWING EXERCISE
[F-12L FREE COMMUNICATION/POSTER ERGOGENIC AIDS]

Powers, M E.1; Borst, S E.1; McCoy, S C.1; Conway, R1; Yarrow, J1

1University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in growth hormone (GH) secretion. GABA is manufactured and sold as an ergogenic aid with the claim that GH secretion will increase following ingestion.

PURPOSE

To examine the GH and immunofunctional GH (IFGH) response to GABA ingestion during resting and exercise conditions.

METHODS

Seven resistance trained males (21.33±1.28 yrs, 176.75±4.07 cm, 81.12±10.63 kg) participated in four randomly ordered testing conditions; rest following placebo ingestion, rest following GABA ingestion, exercise following placebo ingestion, and exercise following GABA ingestion. Subjects ingested capsules containing either 3-g of GABA or a sucrose placebo after initial venous blood samples were taken. During the resting conditions, the subjects remained in a reclined position while blood samples were taken every 15-min for a total of 90-min following ingestion. During the exercise conditions, each subject performed a resistance exercise protocol immediately following ingestion. This consisted of a single set to failure with 70% of a previously determined 1-RM for 11 different exercises separated by a 1-min rest period. Blood samples were again taken immediately following exercise and every 15-min during a 90-min recovery period. ELISA was performed to determine serum levels of GH and IFGH.

RESULTS

GABA ingestion had no effect on resting levels of GH and IFGH. A significant increase in GH [F(6,36)=.3.32, p = .010] was observed following exercise with a greater increase observed when GABA was ingested. GH levels were significantly greater following GABA ingestion, as compared to placebo ingestion, 15- and 30-min post exercise. A significant increase in IFGH was also observed following exercise [F(6,36)=2.76, p = .026], however GABA ingestion did not have an effect on this measure.

CONCLUSION

While no changes were observed in a resting state, the results of this study partially support claims that GABA increases GH secretion, as greater levels of GH were observed following exercise when GABA was ingested.