GABA – Gamma-aminobutyric acid – is a special amino acid with unique and serious performance enhancing effects. It’s a neurotransmitter with primary activity in the central nervous system and the brain, delivering signals that numerous studies have shown to have a profound effect on increasing growth hormone production. When you have higher growth hormone levels, it means greater anabolic activity, more muscle growth, greater strength and increased fat loss.
In a study published in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, scientists set out to see just how effective GABA is at enhancing growth hormone production in experienced lifters centered around their training. And the results are extremely impressive.
In the study, 11 experienced lifters (age 18 to 30) participated in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. The holy grail in study protocols. Double-blind means neither the researchers nor the study participants knew who were getting the GABA or the placebo. This eliminates all bias from the study.
During each experimental bout, participants ingested either 3-grams of GABA or a 3-gram sucrose placebo and proceeded to either rest or engage in weight training exercise sessions. Fasting blood samples were taken immediately before and at 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 minutes after taking GABA or the placebo. The samples were assayed growth hormone concentration.
Stunning Results
Growth Hormone is a very potent anabolic hormone. It has a profound effect on muscle growth, strength, fat loss and also significant anti-aging benefits. This study has confirmed that supplementing with GABA has dramatic effects on inducing growth hormone production in the body.
Scientists observed the following effects during this study: At rest, those taking GABA elevated growth hormone more than 400% compared with those taking the placebo. That’s more than 4-times greater circulating growth hormone with just 3 grams of GABA. When GABA was taken before working out with weights, 30 minutes after ingestion growth hormone increased 200% greater than those taking a placebo and lifting weights.
This is just another study to add to the growing body of research on GABA’s significant effect on growth hormone production.
How to put GABA to work for you . . .
So what’s the best way to use this and other research information to incorporate GABA into your training and supplementation program? While this is an important study on GABA using a pre-workout timing protocol, it also builds on the previous research on GABA and its growth hormone elevating effects.
Research shows when taking GABA, increased growth hormone secretion appears to peak between 60 and 90 minutes. With this knowledge, you should time your GABA intake about 30 minutes before training. I would also recommend another serving 30 minutes after training. This dosing protocol will produce significantly elevated growth hormone levels during and a couple of hours after training.
Also, a 3 to 5 gram serving right before bed will increase growth hormone during one of your body’s naturally high-output times – about 90 minutes after falling asleep as you enter deep Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep.
Supplementing with GABA is a research-proven way to increasing your body’s growth hormone release. Elevated growth hormone levels have a significant impact on muscle growth and fat loss. There’s no excuse not to put this scientifically proven growth hormone releaser to work for you.
