Which tests measure Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid?

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid is measured in 5 tests on BiomarkersLabs.com, including Dried Urine LCMS Neurotransmitters, Dried Urine LCMS Neurotransmitters and Diurnal Hormones II, HPA Profile.

Biomarker Reference · GABA

What does the Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid test measure?

Q: What is the reference range for Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid?

The standard reference range for Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid is Laboratory-specific functional ranges provided by Sanesco; urinary GABA does not reflect central GABA concentrations, as GABA does not readily cross the blood-brain barrier.. Reference ranges vary by laboratory and assay platform — interpret in context of the issuing laboratory's stated range.

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) is a clinical biomarker used in neurological-mental-health assessment. GABA is the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system, synthesised from glutamate by glutamic acid decarboxylase. It is measured in 5 laboratory tests on BiomarkersLabs.com.

Reference Range: Laboratory-specific functional ranges provided by Sanesco; urinary GABA does not reflect central GABA concentrations, as GABA does not readily cross the blood-brain barrier.
Units: µg/mg creatinine, ng/mg creatinine, μg/g creatinine, µg/g creatinine
Measured In: 5 tests
Category: Neurological

Functional medicine optimalSanesco provides proprietary optimal ranges; these are method-specific and should be interpreted as exploratory markers rather than validated thresholds.

What is Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid?

GABA is the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system, synthesised from glutamate by glutamic acid decarboxylase. It modulates neuronal excitability, anxiety, and sleep. Peripheral GABA is synthesised in multiple tissues, including the gut, and urinary GABA predominantly reflects peripheral metabolism rather than synaptic central GABAergic activity.

Why is Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid measured?

Functional neurotransmitter testing interprets urinary GABA as a marker of calm, relaxation, and inhibitory tone. Low values are associated with anxiety, sleep disturbance, and muscle tension, while elevations may reflect increased peripheral synthesis or gut microbial activity. The clinical validity of urinary GABA as a surrogate for central GABAergic function is contested and not supported by pharmacokinetic data.

Reference ranges

Standard reference: Laboratory-specific functional ranges provided by Sanesco; urinary GABA does not reflect central GABA concentrations, as GABA does not readily cross the blood-brain barrier.
Functional medicine optimal: Sanesco provides proprietary optimal ranges; these are method-specific and should be interpreted as exploratory markers rather than validated thresholds.
Units: µg/mg creatinine, ng/mg creatinine, μg/g creatinine, µg/g creatinine

Reference ranges vary by laboratory and assay platform. Interpret in context of the issuing laboratory's stated range.

Tests that measure Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid

5 tests on BiomarkersLabs.com include this biomarker.

BML-NMH-009Comprehensive

Dried Urine LCMS Neurotransmitters

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid reference range in this test: Method-specific; laboratory-specific intervals apply.

BML-NMH-008Comprehensive

Dried Urine LCMS Neurotransmitters and Diurnal Hormones II

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid reference range in this test: Laboratory-specific; typically 1–6 µg/mg creatinine.

BML-NMH-012Comprehensive

HPA Profile

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid reference range in this test: Laboratory-specific functional range; Sanesco reports normalised to creatinine and scored relative to proprietary reference population.

BML-NMH-010Comprehensive

HPA-G Basic Profile

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid reference range in this test: Laboratory-specific functional ranges provided by Sanesco; urinary GABA does not reflect central GABA concentrations, as GABA does not readily cross the blood-brain barrier.

BML-NMH-011Comprehensive

HPA-G Complete Profile

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid reference range in this test: Laboratory-specific functional range provided with result

Related clinical conditions

Related Biomarkers

Frequently measured alongside

Serotonin5-HT5 tests DopamineDA5 tests GlutamateGlu5 tests NorepinephrineNE4 tests EpinephrineEpi4 tests Cortisol3 tests GlycineGly2 tests NoradrenalineNE1 test

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