Posted by Larry Hoover on January 24, 2005, at 6:15:28
In reply to Re: GABA receptors external to brain?, posted by sabre on January 23, 2005, at 20:05:48
> Thankyou Larry
You're welcome. And, before I begin, my answers are pure speculation.
> I am looking at GABA-A receptors in relation to my social anxiety and my sister's epilepsy.
>
> I suspect that these might be implicated because my sister has poorly controlled grand mal epilepsy which I read (in one article) is due to the GABA-A not binding with its receptors. They seemed to think partial seizures were due to insufficient GABA-A. I also have a sister who I suspect shows OCD tendencies....a neat freak.There are two potentiators of GABA-A receptor function that I know of, magnesium and niacinamide. I hesitate to discuss these more fully just now, as I do not know the implications with respect to epilepsy. I'll have to come back to this another time.
> My parents and other siblings are all shy. I don't know how much it bothers them. I hide my social anxiety so they may do so too.
>
> I also found references to GABA in the retina.
> Another sister has developed a rare retinal problem aggravated by stress. Sorry I don't know the name of it.Magnesium seems to pop into my brain, again. Stress is associated with magnesium depletion, as adrenal stress hormones change the ability of the kidneys to retain this mineral, despite the fact that magnesium is essential for modulation of the stress response. Unfortunately, there is no valid medical test for magnesium levels in the body. The test for magnesium deficiency is magnesium supplementation. If the supplementation appears to relieve the symptoms, then magnesium deficiency is inferred to have existed.
> Serotonin receptors are found in the gut so I wondered if the same occured for GABA. The supplement GABA may have an effect on these receptors.I would think so, yes.
> Those using GABA think the blood-brain barrier prevents its uptake. Perhaps if you are deficient in GABA this route might become important??
It would undoubtedly give peripheral boosts to GABA levels. How much difference it would make in an individual can only be determined by experimentation.
> I would like to know if anyone has had success with GABA supplements.
I personally never noticed any effect. But then again, I probably did not do a proper experiment. I take a lot of supps, and I doubt I ever did a solo GABA trial. I get a fine anxiolytic response to niacinamide, so that's what I use.
> I am about to try Picamilon. If it is successful can you see any problems trying it for epilepsy, e.g. if you establish a regular dosage of Picamilon and then reduce it, could it lower your seizure threshold?
I'm not comfortable even trying to answer that. I don't know. I'll see if I can find out, though.
> Thanks Larry. I was hoping you would shed some light on this!
>
> sabreIt's a dim candle, yet. I'll see if I can't brighten the flame a wee bit.
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:445601
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050124/msgs/446645.html