Importance of GABA and Glutamate Balance
GABA is the acronym for Gamma-Amino-n-Butyric Acid. As mentioned, the main role of GABA is to help calm your brain. Thus, it helps in making you feel relaxed. It is also involved in the regulation of anxiety, muscle function, and sleep.
GABA and glutamate play opposite roles in our brain. While GABA calms the brain, glutamate stimulates it. These two neurotransmitters have to be in equilibrium for our brains to function properly. Research suggest that a disequilibrium of the two brain chemicals may be responsible for fibromyalgia.
It is also believed that people with fibromyalgia have low GABA or that it is inefficiently used. However, there is not yet any research that would suggest that chronic fatigue syndrome is due to GABA dysregulation.
Interestingly, glutamate is actually a building block of GABA. Since glutamate and GABA are closely related to each other, it makes sense why the symptoms of brain GABA deficiency resemble the symptoms of brain glutamate excess.
