It’s just interesting to note that based on this study, they conclude that low GABA levels may pre-dispose someone to depressive or other mood disorders.
Abstract:
y-Aminobutyric acid b, an inhibitory neurotransminer
that serves about one-third of brain neurons, is
involved in the development of depression and in the
treatment of depression and mania with pharmacological
therapy. [/b]
Brain activity of GABA may be conveniently measured
in plasma, and changes in plasma concentrations
of GABA reflect brain GABA activity.
Plasma concentrations
of GABA are signfficantly lower than control values
in about one-third of patients with major depressive disorder;
concentrations are also low in patients with mania
and in bipolar patients who are depressed.
These low
concentrations of GABA appear to persist after recovery
from depression and are not increased by treatments that
improve depressive symptoms. Follow-up studies suggest
that GABA concentrations remain relatively constant
over at least 4 years. Additionally, preliminary data suggest
that low plasma GABA is a familial marker of mood
disorders in a subset of patients.
Despite the difficultyof
demonstrating that a particular biochemical measure is a
true genetic trait marker for vulnerability for development
of an illness, the accumulated data suggest that low
plasma GABA may represent a biological marker of vulnerability
for development of various mood disorders.