Pharma Foods International Co. Ltd., manufacturer of PharmaGABA and supplying partner of Mitsubishi International Food Ingredients Inc., has published the results of a 2014 crossover-based, single-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial series that reveals the relationship between γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) and both the time it takes to achieve sleep, and the length of non-REM sleep.
 
The study confirmed that subjects administered PharmaGABA fell asleep more quickly and easily, and more rapidly moved to a state of deep sleep. In addition, they experienced greater length of valuable non-REM sleep. Upon awakening subjects supplements with PharmaGABA consistently reported a qualitatively better and more satisfying sleep experience.
 
What makes this study most notable, according to the company, is that for the first time ever the effects of GABA were examined solely, isolated from any other factors that might affect sleep quality.
 
For the trials, six men and four women, average age of 37.7, who had tested for a high probability of sleep disorder according to the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), were regularly administered 112 mg of PharmaGABA, the equivalent of a full 100 mg of pure GABA, over a period of three weeks. The first and third weeks were active, while the second served as a “wash-out” period. Brain wave activity was monitored using electroencephalography (EEG).
 
It was observed that in the GABA control group sleep latency, the time between wakefulness and the first stage of sleep, was greatly reduced. Further, the successive deep, non-REM stage of sleep— the most beneficial portion of the cycle— was notably, consistently lengthened.
 
In addition, blood was analyzed to determine GABA’s rate of absorption, and it was found that GABA was absorbed very rapidly— within 30 minutes of being administered—and just as significantly, trace levels dropped off precipitously soon after. This draws a distinct line between the activity of GABA, which metabolizes fully over a very short time, and of sleeping formulations such as diazepam and others, including non-prescription sleep aids, which linger in the blood long after rising, resulting in a qualitative decline in cognitive and physical condition. Subjects reported feeling refreshed and alert upon rising after the use of GABA, making it a clearly superior aid to sleep.
 
GABA holds a critical role in the human nervous system, and its absence has been implicated in a variety of neurological diseases. In older clinical studies, dating as far back as 2006, GABA was shown to reduce feelings of anxiety and stress, and to induce relaxation by means of increased total and parasympathetic nerve activity. This has obvious and significant consequences in ameliorating the psychological impact of those occurrences and contributing to a higher sense of overall well-being.
 
Although GABA is found in a range of foods and can be obtained through everyday diet, certain fermented foods particularly popular in East Asia hold especially high concentrations— foods such as the Korean kimchi.
 
Pharma Foods International Co. Ltd. has developed a proprietary process of deriving GABA from an entirely natural source, the fermentation of lactobacillus, and produces a product of unequalled quality and over 80% purity.
 
For more information: www.natural-pharmagaba.com