What you need to know about this popular supplement for sleep, stress and anxiety GABA is one of the supplements I get asked a lot by patients, often with looks of confusion on their faces. I think the confusion comes from the fact that GABA is both a chemical produced within body AND a supplement that’s made for ingestion. Unlike melatonin, which is also produced within the body and as a supplement, GABA isn’t nearly as well known—nor has it received nearly the amount of scientific attention as melatonin supplements. Given the interest and popularity of GABA—and the importance of the body’s own GABA to sleep, mood, and health—it’s definitely worth spending some time talking about. What is GABA? GABA (full name, Gamma-Aminobutyric acid) is an amino acid produced naturally in the brain. GABA functions as a neurotransmitter, facilitating communication among brain cells. GABA’s big role in the body is to reduce the activity of neurons in the brain and central nervous syst...