Best GABA Supplement for Anxiety (15+ List)

This is a short article that will walk you through various options for GABA supplements. Our list first describes four products that supply GABA. The remainder of the article describes other types of supplements that promote GABA activity and lower anxiety.

What are the Best GABA Supplements for Anxiety?

The best GABA supplements, GABA-modulating supplements, and GABA-modulating natural extracts are as follows:

• Now GABA
• Bestvite GABA
• PharmaGABA
• Jarrow Formulas GABA Soothe
• Magnesium
• Vitamin B6
• L-Arginine
• Calcium
• L-Theanine
• Taurine
• Valerian Root
• Chamomile
• Lemon Balm
• Passionflower
• Ashwagandha
• Kava

How GABA Supplements Help Anxiety

GABA stands for Gamma Amino Butyric Acid, which is an important neurotransmitter. Research studies reveal that GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that is a common target in pharmacotherapy for anxiety disorders. 

It helps promote relaxation since it slows down the activity of the brain. When administered orally, GABA displayed immunity-enhancing abilities. Abdou et al (2008) confirmed this with a study of oral GABA intake in humans.

There are many GABA-modulating supplements that can be used as dietary supplements. These compounds influence the activity of GABA without causing side-effects. Here, readers will learn about the best GABA supplements, GABA-Modulating supplements, and GABA-modulating natural extracts.

Direct Supplements for GABA

There are many different kinds of GABA supplements that help with anxiety. Our first category is of supplements that primarily give you GABA. Some of these also contain other GABA-related nutrients. Since the main ingredient is the same, we’ll describe the top brands for GABA dietary supplements.

Now GABA

This is a pack of 200 vegan and kosher capsules that will supply you with GABA. An additional benefit to these pills is that they also contain Vitamin B6. As you will read later, this is a helpful nutrient for mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and PMS.

Now GABA capsules are NPA A-Rated GMP certified. Take one capsule 2 to 3 times a day as required. Store them in a cool, dry place after opening. 

Bestvite GABA

Here is a bottle of 120 GABA capsules that are vegan and gluten-free. Support healthy relaxation and lower your anxiety with these helpful tablets. The suggested use is one capsule twice a day with meals. 

The ingredients used to make them are natural and contain no GMO. This is a stearate-free product.

PharmaGABA

The Thorne Research Store supplies this pack of 60 GABA capsules. These are unflavoured, natural capsules that are free of dairy, soy, nuts, or other animal products. Take them daily to promote sleep and to remain calm.

It is recommended by the makers for people who feel overwhelmed, stressed out, or in need of restful sleep.

Jarrow Formulas GABA Soothe

This is a pack of 30 veggie capsules containing GABA, theanine, and ashwagandha. The latter two are useful supplements that aid to performance of GABA. 

It is a vegan product that supports mental focus and helps you relax. Each capsule has 100 mg of GABA and theanine plus 225 mg of ashwagandha extracts.

GABA Modulating Supplements

Now that we’ve mentioned several choices of GABA supplements that will ease your anxiety, let’s explore some more options. These are supplements that augment GABA performance in lowering anxiety. They are either required for the production of GABA or they modulate the performance of GABA.

Magnesium

Magnesium-containing supplements and other herbal combinations may hold promise, but more research is needed before these products can be recommended to patients. Studies show herbal supplements with Magnesium show potential to be good anxiety relievers. 

According to Boyle, Lawton, and Dye (2017), magnesium may modulate anxiety via increasing GABAergic availability. These researchers comment that further investigation is needed, but the results are convincing.

Our top 3 Magnesium Recommendations

Brand	Vegan	GMO Free	Kosher	Powder	Unflavoured	Nut-Free	Gluten-Free
Sundown	x	x			x	x	x
Nature’s Bounty	x	x				x	x
Nature Made					x		x

Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 is one of the essential nutrients for a healthy diet. It aids the body in using and storing energy from protein and carbohydrates in food. This nutrient can be taken through fish, offal, potatoes, and vegetables high in starch content.

Due to dietary restrictions, some people prefer taking supplements for it. Kohji Sato writes that Vitamin B6 can promote GABAergic system function and normalize the excitatory/inhibitory balance of neurotransmitters.

Our top 3 Vitamin B6 Recommendations

Brand	Vegan	GMO Free	Kosher	Powder	Unflavoured	Nut-Free	Gluten-Free
Nutricost	x	x				x	x
Country Life	x	x			x	x	x
Solgar	x	x	x		x	x	x

L-Arginine

Smriga and Torii (2013) investigated the benefits of L-Arginine on anxiety symptoms of rats in stressful situations. The data suggested that the amino acid significantly decreased plasma corticosterone levels. 

This indicates that L-Arginine intake can lower stress in mammals. Similar findings have increased people’s interest in using L-Arginine as an anxiety treatment. Like this one, which shows that L-Arginine potentiates GABA-mediated synaptic transmission.

Our top 3 L-Arginine Recommendations

Brand	Vegan	GMO Free	Kosher	Powder	Unflavoured	Nut-Free	Gluten-Free
Now	x	x	x			x	x
Source Naturals					x	x	x
Nutricost	x	x	x		x	x	x

Calcium

Ghanbari et al (2009) wanted to see if taking calcium supplements can improve symptoms of depression and anxiety. Their investigation revealed that these supplements had many positive impacts. 

Calcium appears to act allosterically to enhance GABA responses at the GABA_B receptor. These supplements can also reduce early fatigability and changes in appetite. You can try adding calcium to your diet as a support for anxiety treatment.

Our top 3 Calcium Recommendations

Brand	Vegan	GMO Free	Kosher	Powder	Unflavoured	Nut-Free	Gluten-Free
Nature’s Bounty		x			x	x	x
Nature Made	x	x			x	x	x
Citracal					x

Taurine

This Korean study demonstrated how dietary taurine intake helped prevent depression in 130 female college students. This suggests that promoting physiological wellbeing can be a primary prevention technique to lower the prevalence of this leading disability. 

Taurine supplements have been in demand for their other health benefits like healthy metabolism. Now, they are suggested to be good for mental health too. There is compelling evidence that taurin interacts with the GABAergic system to increase GABA expression and GABA levels.

Our top 3 Taurine Recommendations

Brand	Vegan	GMO Free	Kosher	Powder	Unflavoured	Nut-Free	Gluten-Free
Source Naturals					x	x	x
The Vitamin Shoppe	x	x			x	x	x
Nutricost	x	x				x	x

L-Theanine

L-Theanine not only increases GABA levels but can also do the same for serotonin and dopamine. A 2016 investigation confirmed that theanine oral supplements are safe and have shown significant improvement in many psychological issues. 

Theanine can help with sleep disturbances, cognitive impairments, anxiety, and depression. It has also been shown to have comparable effects with Alprazolam, a psychiatric drug meant for anxiety.

Our top 3 L-Theanine Recommendations

Brand	Vegan	GMO Free	Kosher	Powder	Unflavoured	Nut-Free	Gluten-Free
Nature’s Trove	x		x		x
Natural Factors	x	x					x
Nutricost	x	x				x	x

GABA Modulating Natural Extracts

We’ve already covered quite a few options you can use as GABA supplements for anxiety. In this section, we’re going to talk about certain natural extracts which promote GABA activity. These are organic, plant-based supplements that improve your mental health and neurotransmitter balance.

Valerian Root

Recently, investigators examined the effects of Valerian extracts on hospitalised patients with coronary heart disease. The study compared the effects of Valerian oils with those of Oxazepam, an anti-anxiety drug. Surprisingly, valerian essence was found to be equally effective. 

If you’re not a fan of pharmacotherapy, valerian essential oil can be a good substitute for Oxazepam. Valerian root has also been demonstrated to assist synaptosomal GABA release.

Our top 3 Valerian Root Recommendations

Brand	Vegan	GMO Free	Kosher	Powder	Unflavoured	Nut-Free	Gluten-Free
Herb Pharm	x				x	x	x
Nature’s Answer	x	x	x		x	x	x
Now	x	x	x			x	x

Chamomile

Chamomile is a type of flower commonly used to brew tea. It is considered an effective relaxant and is used for numerous health conditions like inflammation, menstrual disorders, insomnia, and pain.

Constituents of chamomile have been shown to bind to BZ receptors and reduce GABA-activated activity. Long-term oral administration of chamomile has been found to be safe and can significantly reduce moderate-to-severe GAD symptoms. Chamomile can also be consumed through a hot cup of tea.

Our top 3 Chamomile Recommendations

Brand	Vegan	GMO Free	Kosher	Powder	Unflavoured	Nut-Free	Gluten-Free
TerraVita Chamomile					x	x	x
TerraVita German Chamomile					x	x	x
Florida Herbs	x	x			x	x	x

Lemon Balm

Clinicians often prescribe lemon- balm as a mild mood elevator and calming agent for patients who have anxiety. It helps by increasing GABA levels. This is a perennial herb that is part of the mint family. Along with anxiety, it is believed to help with stress, insomnia, indigestion, and dementia. 

Abascal and Yarnell (2004) discussed in their article that nervine herbs like lemon balm are safe and non-addictive. They suggested that these should be used instead of addictive benzodiazepines.  

Our top 3 Lemon Balm Recommendations

Brand	Vegan	GMO Free	Kosher	Powder	Unflavoured	Nut-Free	Gluten-Free
Solaray	x	x			x	x	x
New Chapter	x	x			x	x	x
Alvita	x	x				x	x

Passionflower

In 2019, a Japanese trial showed how effective passionflower supplements can be in reducing anxiety. The investigators also found that exposure to this natural extract and improves a person’s diurnal rhythm. A helpful rhythm adaptive to our circumstances in life promotes wellbeing. 

Another study also established that passion flower supplementation modulates GABA levels in the body. The impact of these supplements include affinity to GABA_A and GABA_B receptors, and effects on GABA uptake.

Our top 3 Passion Flower Recommendations

Brand	Vegan	GMO Free	Kosher	Powder	Unflavoured	Nut-Free	Gluten-Free
Solaray Passion Flower	x	x			x	x	x
Oregon’s Wild Harvest Passion Flower Capsules		x				x	x
Nature’s Answer Passion Flower	x	x				x	x

Ashwagandha

Withania somnifera, known commonly as ashwagandha, is a plant native to India and North Africa. The Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine published that ashwagandha root extract safely and effectively improves an individual’s resistance towards stress. 

The 2012 study was conducted to assess the anxiolytic effects of ashwagandha. By measuring the serum cortisol levels of subjects, the authors confirmed this hypothesis. Behavioral experiments have lent support to the GABA-mimetic activity of Ashwagandha root extract.

Our top 3 Ashwagandha Recommendations

Brand	Vegan	GMO Free	Kosher	Powder	Unflavoured	Nut-Free	Gluten-Free
Now	x	x	x			x	x
Herb Pharm	x				x	x	x
Gaia Herbs	x	x				x	x

Kava

Also called kava kava, this is a crop of the Pacific Islands and its name has Tongan and Marquesan origins. Though kava kava is used for many indegenous practices, the clinical evidence is limited.

The effect of Kava on anxiety symptoms was shown through a 2018 study. The pharmacological properties of kava are postulated to include enhanced ligand binding to GABA. However, more research needs to be done to confirm the kava-GABA interaction.

Our top 3 Kava Recommendations

Brand	Vegan	GMO Free	Kosher	Powder	Unflavoured	Nut-Free	Gluten-Free
Natrol		x				x	x
Naturelo	x				x	x	x
Gaia Herbs	x	x				x	x

Conclusion

This was a short article that walked you through various options for GABA supplements. Our list first described four products that supply GABA. The remainder of the article described other types of supplements that promote GABA activity and lower anxiety.

The GABA supplements mentioned here included Now GABA, Bestvite GABA, PharmaGABA, Jarrow Formulas GABA Soothe, Magnesium, Vitamin B6, L-Arginine, Calcium, L-Theanine, Taurine, Valerian Root, Chamomile, Lemon Balm, Passionflower, Ashwagandha, and Kava.

FAQs (Best GABA Supplements for Anxiety)

Citations

• https://iubmb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/biof.5520260305