Kimberly is a mom in the community and shared this wonderful feedback about her 8-year old son who is using just two amino acids:
I started my son on Gaba Calm and Serotrex (5-htp) twice a day after struggling with ADD-like symptoms for about 9 months. I’m not sure if he really has ADD or if his gut problems are to blame, but the amino acids have made our day-to-day life so much better!
I think we may need to do some work with his nervous system and on helping him learn to regulate his emotions, but he’s much less mouthy and argumentative than he was before. We still have hard days, but the supplements have helped pull me out of being exhausted and discouraged all the time from fighting with him constantly over everything.
I never get tired of hearing feedback like this and it’s not uncommon for young children (and adults) to see benefits like this very quickly.
She doesn’t know if he has ADD (attention deficit disorder) but she used the amino acids based on his symptoms (low GABA and low serotonin). We know it was the right choice because of his results. Could his symptoms improve even further? Absolutely! We typically increase one amino acid at a time watching for further improvement and stop when we reach the ideal dose.
Because she says “we still have hard days” I’d want to see her increase the GABA and 5-HTP (as mentioned above) and also consider a trial of DPA/d-phenylalanine (for low endorphin emotional symptoms) and possibly tyrosine (for low dopamine focus and attention issues). Low blood sugar can also cause an emotional rollercoaster and eating for blood sugar stability and glutamine helps so much.
When I hear “mouthy” and “argumentative” I immediately consider low serotonin but low blood sugar comes to mind too.
These additional amino acid trials would also be done one at a time with careful tracking of symptoms and adjustments up and down as needed.
If you’re not familiar with the symptoms of low serotonin, low GABA, low endorphins, low dopamine and low blood sugar you can see them all here.
Kimberly acknowledges that they may need to do work in other areas too – like learning to regulate his emotions and addressing gut issues. This is good as it’s seldom just one approach that is going to shift things.
Kimberly has also seen benefits with 5-HTP
I also love this feedback from Kimberly because she is less exhausted and no longer discouraged because her son is doing so much better.
By the way, this mom also experiences benefits from amino acids. 5-HTP helps her with sugar cravings. I shared her feedback in a blog post last year: Would using 5-HTP or tryptophan help when you crave sugar (as a sort of antidepressant) late afternoon/evening?
I was taking a break from tryptophan/5-HTP and realized after reading this post that that might be a mistake! So I added 5-HTP back in mid-afternoon and my sugar cravings are almost completely gone.
And 5-HTP also helped her late afternoon sadness and despair:
I took a 50 mg 5-HTP along with my mid-afternoon Endorphigen capsule, and within just a few minutes I felt the sadness and despair that I often feel in the late afternoon, start to lift. I was astonished at how quickly it worked!
I just love it when the amino acids work for mom and then mom helps her child.
It goes without saying that dietary changes are foundational in situations like this – often for the entire family. This means eating real whole foods, quality animal protein (especially at breakfast to help with blood sugar stability), organic veggies and fruit, fermented foods, healthy fats and no sugar/gluten/caffeine (all covered in detail in my book).
Assessing for and addressing nutritional deficiencies (like low zinc, low vitamin B6, low omega-3s, low iron etc.), removing toxins, addressing the gut (more on this below) and addressing infections are all important too. It’s always a comprehensive approach. But the good news is that you start to get results right away with amino acid supplementation, while you are figuring out everything else.
Gut issues and 5-HTP/serotonin and GABA
As mentioned above Kimberly also suspects possible gut problems with her son. These could include dysbiosis (microbiome imbalance), food sensitivities, leaky gut, parasites, candida and or digestive enzyme issues etc. These always need to be investigated and addressed – because they can all contribute to low GABA and low serotonin – but until the issues are resolved, you can start to see some symptom resolution with the amino acids.
The amino acids he is taking offer an added gut benefit too. In an animal study, Effects of Serotonin and Slow-Release 5-Hydroxytryptophan on Gastrointestinal Motility in a Mouse Model of Depression, 5-HTP was shown to normalize gut motility and growth of the enteric epithelium. The paper concludes that slow release 5-HTP “might be used to treat patients with intestinal dysfunction associated with low levels of serotonin.”
Interestingly, an in-vitro (test-tube) study found that: “Serotonin showed antifungal activity towards all isolates of candida.” This was for certain strains, such as albicans, glabrata, tropicalis, and a few others).
This review article published earlier this year, Gamma-aminobutyric acid as a potential postbiotic mediator in the gut-brain axis discusses the role GABA plays in “psychological disorders, including anxiety, depression, and stress” and also attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The authors also share that GABA has an impact on “gut microbiota composition” and confirms what has been reported in other research and what we see clinically: the “possibility that GABA may be a potent mediator of the gut-brain axis.”
Additional resources when you are new to using amino acids as supplements
As always, I use the symptoms questionnaire to figure out if low GABA or low serotonin or other neurotransmitter imbalances may be an issue.
If you suspect low levels of any of the neurotransmitters and do not yet have my book, The Antianxiety Food Solution – How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings, I highly recommend getting it and reading it before jumping in and using amino acids on your own so you are knowledgeable. And be sure to share it with the practitioner/health team you or your loved one is working with.
There is an entire chapter on the amino acids and they are discussed throughout the book in the sections on gut health, gluten, blood sugar control (this is covered in an entire chapter too), sugar cravings, anxiety and mood issues.
The book doesn’t include product names (per the publisher’s request) so this blog, The Antianxiety Food Solution Amino Acid and Pyroluria Supplements, lists the amino acids that I use with my individual clients and those in my group programs.
If, after reading this blog and my book, you don’t feel comfortable figuring things out on your own (i.e. doing the symptoms questionnaire and respective amino acids trials), a good place to get help is the GABA QuickStart Program (if you have low GABA symptoms too). This is a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance and community support.
If you are a practitioner, join us in The Balancing Neurotransmitters: the Fundamentals program. This is also a paid online/virtual program with an opportunity to interact with me and other practitioners who are also using the amino acids.
Wrapping up and your feedback
I’m thrilled Kimberly saw these benefits with 5-HTP and then helped her son with 5-HTP and GABA. I asked if I could share here to inspire other moms and give them hope and she said yes. I do always appreciate feedback from the community and being able to share it on the blog.
Now I’d love to hear from you – Does any of this resonate with you? If yes, which amino acid has helped you and your child and how has it helped?
If you’re a practitioner have you seen GABA and 5-HTP help in situations like this?
Angy says
hi,are you familiar with d ribose as helpful for many muofascial pains?Please comment/ refer.
thanks
Trudy Scott says
Angy
I have had success with GABA, tryptophan and DPA/Endorphigen but have not used d-ribose with clients for this purpose. There is however research supporting it’s use https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7418385/
Angy says
thanks Trudy,d ribose may be worth trying.I was trying Gaba per your directions,just a little powder on tongue swishing,but felt no change,I wonder if it’s safe to try more ,up to how many mg to start it again?
Another supplement I wanted to ask you about is Pea,for all kinds of pains very extensively marketed whereas Gaba is less so ( I wonder why + why gaba seems to be marketed for anxiety +sleep but not pain,muscle spasms especially),do you have any experience / advise ,on Pea?
thanks
Trudy Scott says
Angy
I have clients increase GABA slowly monitoring improvements and backing down if they don’t see an improvement or get an adverse effects
I like PEA for pain. It works via a different mechanism to “exert anti-inflammatory actions mainly through inhibition of the release of pro-inflammatory molecules from mast cells, monocytes and macrophages” https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-00342-1
Angy says
hi again Trudy,to specify that Pea supplements may not be for muscle spasms? as the views are very conflicting though it’s marketed otherwise.
Going back to Gaba ,perhaps I was wrong to be discouraged with first trials just a pinch powder swishing in mouth,perhaps I should up the dose but how much? as you say to start low ,also want to be careful of possible side effects in bigger dosages.The “Now” pure gaba powder I bought says 500mg =1/4 level teaspoon up to 3×day but that’s too much,right?
As my issue is with muscle spasms – stiff muscles ( thats where d ribose is recommended by some experts in fibromyalgia type pains )
maybe gaba might help bettrr along with acetyl l carnitine ,also recommended by them + you.
gaba dose: hard to measure ie.125mg bottle doesn’t have any measuring spoon,if that’s a good dose to restart with × how many times day ?
As it seems to have been helping you + your clients a lot from what I read in your blogs,esp with spasm.
thanks again
Trudy Scott says
Angy
I can’t offer specifics via the blog but have clients use a handy mini measuring spoon like this one https://amzn.to/3Q94nsI (my Amazon link)
steve jesus says
Tracy,
I have been following you for many years. my question is this: Should I be using GABA, l-theanine other 5 HTP if I am on Sertraline.
thanks ,steve
Trudy Scott says
Steve
There is a possibility of serotonin syndrome with 5-HTP and SSRIs so always best to work with the prescribing doctor.
Angel González Vázquez says
El GABA + Bisciglinato de Magnesio + Tirosina, ayudaron a superar una depresión y brote psicótico en mi hijo de 35 años. Gracias por la info Trudy. Siempre es bien recibida.
Trudy Scott says
Angel
Wonderful to hear. I’d love to hear how much of each helped and if he’s still using them?
(posting the translation for others to read “GABA + Magnesium Bisciglinate + Tyrosine helped me overcome depression and psychotic break in my 35-year-old son. Thanks for the info Trudy. Always welcome.”)
Patricia Wight says
I am not leaving a reply but I don’t know where else I can make a comment/question. The long and short of is: I have am a 66 yr young female with over 20 years of MS. My MS is stabile as a result, I am sure, of going plant based and my ever strengthening faith in God. I also have restless legs. I have discovered that rather than medication for my restless legs from the doctor I take 4x 500 mg GABA capsules, 4x B1 100mg tablets and 5000 mcg B12. I found that out somewhere on You tube and have been using that for well over a year. Now though it seems that I experience restless legs almost every day and although 1 know that excess B12 is urinated I am concerned. So when I saw this article a few days ago about combining GABA with 5-HTP I thought nothing ventured nothing gained as I had both on hand. I tried the combo yesterday at 8pm and had a bit of a struggle but it worked out fine! I will continue for sure hoping and praying!
Trudy Scott says
Patricia
Thanks for sharing and glad to hear this combo is helping
Rosaria Somerville says
Good morning! So glad to see your email come in Trudy! I have been thinking about GABBA supplementation
since reading the blog. In the blog someone mentioned that they had gut issues, as do I, and a protein powder was mentioned in one of the posts. I would love to know what that is please, as I have gut issues
(SIBO and MTHFR) and need extra nutrition. Thank you so much for your help. Rosaria.
Trudy Scott says
Rosaria
I like whey protein powder if dairy is tolerated. Otherwise a beef protein powder is good and so is pea protein for some folks. Designs for Health offers all of the above and can be found in my online store.