GABA

Gamma-aminobutyric acid reference formula at a default of 750 mg per serving, developed as a capsule, powder or tablet.

GABA is a reference formula for brands building a single-ingredient gamma-aminobutyric acid product around 750 mg per serving. The brand sets the final amount for its market, and reference labels span 25 to 3,000 mg per serving.

Capsule is the lead format because most reference labels use it, with powder and tablet developed alongside. The work centers on a small, very soluble amino acid at a high dose: 750 mg already fills a large capsule, and the powder takes up moisture quickly.

Ingredient Composition

IngredientPer ServingRaw Material FormAlternative Form (same amount of active)
GABA750 mgGamma-aminobutyric acid free-form powder, chemically synthesized or fermentation-derived, specified on a declared-weight basis; 750 mg per servingA fermentation-derived GABA grade or a GABA-enriched ingredient, with the input recalculated from its GABA content

The amount is stated as mg of gamma-aminobutyric acid. GABA is C4H9NO2, 103.12 g/mol (PubChem CID 119); the free form has no salt or hydrate conversion.

Intended Benefits & Formula Rationale

This formula is designed for products positioned around evening and stress-management nutrition. GABA is included as the single ingredient so that the concept stays on one signaling amino acid.

Intended Benefit DirectionKey IngredientsFormulation Rationale
Functional nutrientGABAA review describes GABA as an endogenous metabolite and signaling molecule distributed across plants, microorganisms and mammalian tissues, considered as a nonessential bioactive metabolite rather than an essential nutrient [1]. Evidence: Referenced
Oral GABA supplementationGABAThe same review states that evidence on oral GABA supplementation remains fragmented across disciplines and that the translational relevance of peripheral GABA biology is incompletely defined [1]. Evidence: Mixed

The amount is a design choice. The review in [1] covers GABA supplementation in general and does not test this formula, so any claim on a finished product is reviewed for each market.

Available Formats

Reference labels are mostly capsules, with powders and tablets behind them; these three formats are developed here.

FormatUnitPer ServingPack SizeOther Ingredients (typical)Suitability
Capsule1 capsuleGABA 750 mg60 or 90 capsulesGelatin or vegetable capsule shellLead format; large size 00 capsule
Powder1 stick pack, 3 gGABA 750 mg30 stick packsSweetener, acid, flavor, flow agentDissolves into a drink
Tablet1 tabletGABA 750 mg60 tabletsMicrocrystalline cellulose, silica, magnesium stearate, coatingLarge compressed unit; coating needed against moisture

Raw Material Input & Fill (Design Estimate)

Design estimates. GABA is assumed at 100% of its declared weight, so 750 mg per serving needs 750 mg of raw material; the supplier’s assay is applied once the lot is chosen.

FormatRaw Material Input per UnitDesign FillBalance for ExcipientsVerification Before Scale-Up
Capsule750 mg780 mg per capsule30 mgBulk density against the size 00 volume, capsule weight spread, shell opening time
Powder750 mg3 g per stick pack2,250 mgDissolution test, taste in water, caking in the sachet
Tablet750 mg950 mg tablet weight200 mgCompression, hardness, friability, coating moisture barrier

Liquid and gummy are separate projects, because the high solubility of GABA and a 750 mg dose change the stability and taste work in those systems.

Formulation Considerations

Capsule volume. A size 00 capsule holds about 750 to 800 mg of a dense powder, so 750 mg of GABA leaves almost no room for excipients. A lower bulk density lot, or a serving split over two capsules, is the fallback.
Moisture uptake. GABA is very soluble and picks up moisture, which makes the powder clump and a tablet soft. A desiccant, a moisture-barrier coat and humidity-controlled filling are part of the plan.
Taste in a drink. GABA is slightly sweet but also faintly bitter at gram-level doses. The powder format uses acid and sweetener choices tested in water in the pilot run.
Source grade. Fermentation-derived and synthetic GABA are both sold. The grade sets the cost and the labeling, and the specification states which one applies.

Customization Options

Brands adjust the amount, the source, the format and the add-ons.

ParameterRangeNote
GABA per serving250, 500, 750 or 1000 mgExamples for the brand; unit size rises with the amount
SourceSynthetic or fermentation-derivedChanges the labeling and the cost
FormatCapsule, powder or tabletLiquid and gummy are separate projects
Add-onsL-theanine, magnesium, vitamin B6A second ingredient changes the unit weight and the claim wording

The pilot run confirms capsule fill at the chosen lot, tablet hardness and moisture behavior, and the dissolution of the stick pack in water.

Flavor Options

FormatSuggested FlavorsWhy
PowderLemon, berry, grapeFruit flavors cover the faint bitter note

Technical Status & Data Sources

ItemStatusDetails
Reference formulaNIH DSLDThe ingredient and amount come from a labeled product in the NIH DSLD (750 mg on the label of CF001867; example DSLD labels 11771, 72824, 78433). The label names the ingredient as GABA; the free form is set.
SpecificationSet in formulationGamma-aminobutyric acid free form at 750 mg per serving; assay, moisture, microbial and heavy-metal limits and method are fixed with the supplier. Unit size, fill weight and stability are set in formulation.
Data sourceNIH DSLDDSLD v9.4.0, downloaded 2026-01-10: 50,824 reference formulas merged from on-market labels with complete ingredient amounts. Counts show how labels are distributed.
Market reviewPer marketDose limits, labeling and claims are reviewed for each sales market before a finished product is developed.
ReferencesSources[1] Lu WY. Supplementation of γ-Aminobutyric Acid as a Functional Nutrient. Nutrients. 2026;18(14):2389. DOI · PubMed

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