GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)
The brain's main inhibitory neurotransmitter, also sold as a supplement; evidence is limited for stress and very limited for sleep.
What it is
In the brain, GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter, damping nerve-cell activity. How oral GABA supplements might act is unclear; reviewers suggest passage into the brain or effects through the gut's nervous system, but neither is established.
What it is studied for
Placebo-controlled trials have tested natural or fermentation-made GABA, taken by mouth, on stress and sleep measures. In one, 40 adults with insomnia symptoms took GABA or placebo for four weeks; it reported faster sleep onset, but only 10 people received placebo.
What the evidence says
Small human trials; limited evidence
A 2020 systematic review of 14 trials found limited evidence for stress and very limited evidence for sleep; the studies were too varied to combine in a meta-analysis, and 11 had company-employed authors. Whether oral GABA raises brain GABA in people is unknown.
How it was studied
Human trials gave GABA by mouth, in capsules, tablets, chocolate or drinks. Blood GABA rises after oral intake, but brain uptake in people is unproven; no study of a GABA spray, or of this four-ingredient spray, was found.
Regulatory status
In the US, GABA is sold as a dietary supplement. Makers do not have to show that it works, as long as they avoid claims about specific diseases or conditions.
Where to find it
Deep Sleep
- Spray DSIP 10 mg, pinealon 10 mg, melatonin 50 mg and GABA 250 mg per 10 mL bottle
Sold by USA Standard Research, the team behind PeptidesGenie, for research use only. Not for human or veterinary use.
Sources
- 1PubChem: Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, CID 119 Chemical reference
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Source-checked · 27 Oct 2026