BrainMD GABA Calming Support Review: Does it Really Work?

BrainMD GABA Calming Support Review

GABA Calming Support Review at a Glance

BrainMD’s GABA Calming Support is a healthy sleep aid that you can use everyday to help you relax, unwind, and achieve better sleep. However, it’s not nearly as effective as other leading sleep supplements. GABA Calming Support’s two major drawbacks are low ingredient dosages and some missing ingredients. Most reviews suggest positive results, but there are people who didn’t find it effective at all.

Pros:

  • Contains calming ingredients like GABA and Lemon Balm Extract
  • Melatonin-free
  • Some users report effective stress relief

Cons:

  • A little pricey compared to other similar products ($41.95 per bottle)
  • Key ingredients such as Magnesium and L-Theanine are underdosed
  • Some users found it ineffective
  • Lacks core ingredients like Passionflower and Valerian Root

What do we recommend?

See Our Top 3 Highest-Rated Sleep Aids

About BrainMD GABA Calming Support

BrainMD GABA Calming Support is a supplement designed to help you reduce stress and get better sleep. As the name tells you, it’s focused on its main ingredient GABA. This is a neurotransmitter naturally occuring in your brain, but taking it as a supplement is speculated to have extra benefits. BrainMD GABA Calming Support also has a supportive cast of vitamins, minerals, herbal extracts, and amino acids.

But does it really work? Let’s delve deeper.

FeaturesDetails
BenefitsRelaxation, Calm, Stress Support, Anxiousness Relief
IngredientsVitamin B6, Magnesium, GABA, Lemon Balm Extract, L-Theanine
ManufacturerBrainMD
AvailabilityYes, on Amazon
Pricing$41.95 per bottle, est. $49-50 with shipping

How to Use

Start with just 1 capsule per day with water, ideally on an empty stomach. Once you get an idea about how it works for you, you can bump up the dosage to a maximum of 6 capsules per day.

Ingredients

GABA Calming Support Ingredients

So, how does BrainMD GABA Calming Support’s formula look? The ingredients are decent – you should feel a slight improvement in your sleep onset and quality. Interestingly, there’s no melatonin inside. This can be a plus or a minus, depending on how you look at it. It’s certainly not as strong as melatonin-containing formulas, and it may need longer to start working because of the lack of melatonin.

However, the dosages is what concerns us the most. They are very low. The ingredients won’t be utilized to their full extent unfortunately.

We’d also like to see other studied sleep aids included in the formula. For example: Lemon Balm, Passionflower, and Valerian Root, among others. As it stands, GABA Calming Support can calm you a bit, but it’s nowhere near the effectiveness of the market leading sleep aids.

Okay, let’s have a closer look at the ingredients to see what each one can do for you.

1. Vitamin B6: It comes in the form of pyridoxine HCI and pyridoxal-5-phosphate in BrainMD GABA Calming Support. Basically, Vitamin B6 aids in the production of neurotransmitters which regulate your mood and sleep. You get 8mg per serving, which is plenty. [1]

2. Magnesium: A vital mineral without which your body can’t survive, it’s offered here as glycinate and malate at a dose of 33 mg. This dosage is sadly very low and ineffective for aiding sleep much. Most studies point that 200-400 mg per day is ideal for maintaining optimal health.

3. GABA: Or Gamma-AminoButyric Acid if you fancy complex terms. GABA is a naturally occurring amino acid that works as a neurotransmitter in your brain. The dosage of 250 mg here is quite good. It’s known for its calming and tranquilizing effects. There’s a debate on whether GABA supplements are of any use as some studies suggest it doesn’t cross the blood-brain barrier well, while others show it may help with sleep. In any case, it doesn’t hurt to try it for yourself and see if it helps, as it looks to be harmless ingredient. [2]

4. Lemon Balm Extract: This is a great one. Sourced from the leaves of the Melissa officinalis plant, Lemon Balm has a long history of use for its calming effects. Only problem? 50mg per serving is nowhere near the minimum effective amount of 300mg.

5. L-Theanine: An amino acid that you get when drinking green tea. It promotes relaxation and reduces stress. At 33mg per serving in GABA Calming Support, though, it’s probably not going to do much for you. The most effective sleep aids contain 100-200 mg per serving for a reason – this dosage is required for optimal effectiveness. [3]

Overall, while BrainMD GABA Calming Support offers some potentially calming ingredients, some core ingredients like hops, Passionflower, and Valerian Root are missing from the bunch. But it’s not all terrible – the lack of melatonin is a plus for those wanting to avoid its potential side effects and tolerance build-up, especially if you plan on taking this daily.

Customer Reviews

Customer reviews for the BrainMD GABA Calming Support are mixed but leading positive. It has a rating of 4.4/5 stars on Amazon from over 260 reviews. J.B. said, “This works to reduce/eliminate an overactive anxious mind. But it also helps with sleep.”

Hey, but as with any supplement, some people raised concerns about the product’s price, lack of third-party testing, and effectiveness. An anonymous Amazon customer noticed this very well: “It’s very pricey and you can get the same a lot cheaper with same results.” And here’s what Riya said, “I purchased these capsules to help manage stress and anxiety. They have not helped me in any way.”

Side Effects?

BrainMD GABA Calming Support is going to work fine for most people. If you’re healthy and not taking any meds, this product is unlikely to give you any major side effects. The ingredients themselves are well-studied, and their dosages are very low (for better or for worse!).

*You should check with a qualified professional if you aren’t sure whether to take this product or not. Remember, our posts aren’t meant as advice – they’re for informational and entertainment purposes only!

Where to Buy?

You can buy BrainMD GABA Calming Support directly from the BrainMD’s official website, or on Amazon. The price? Approximately $41.95 per bottle, with shipping costs bringing the total closer to $49-50.

The Bottom Line

BrainMD GABA Calming Support should give you some benefits if you struggle with stress at night. That said, the price that is being charged makes it a sub-par value in our eyes. The underdosed ingredients and incomplete formula is not something you’ll find among the very best sleep aids at a similar price range.

What do we recommend?

See Our Top 3 Highest-Rated Sleep Aids

References

  1. Ge L, Luo J, Zhang L, Kang X, Zhang D. Association of Pyridoxal 5′-Phosphate with Sleep-Related Problems in a General Population. Nutrients. 2022 Aug 26;14(17):3516. doi: 10.3390/nu14173516. PMID: 36079774; PMCID: PMC9460331.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9460331/#:~:text=Another%20study%20suggested%20that%20vitamin,complex%20and%20placebo%20%5B41%5D.
  2. Hepsomali P, Groeger JA, Nishihira J, Scholey A. Effects of Oral Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Administration on Stress and Sleep in Humans: A Systematic Review. Front Neurosci. 2020 Sep 17;14:923. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00923. PMID: 33041752; PMCID: PMC7527439.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7527439/
  3. Hidese S, Ogawa S, Ota M, Ishida I, Yasukawa Z, Ozeki M, Kunugi H. Effects of L-Theanine Administration on Stress-Related Symptoms and Cognitive Functions in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2019 Oct 3;11(10):2362. doi: 10.3390/nu11102362. PMID: 31623400; PMCID: PMC6836118.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6836118/

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