GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) GABA（γ-アミノ酪酸）

In Japan: Foods with Function Claims notifications

Functions claimed (counted from notifications with this ingredient alone)

Examples of notified claims (our translation)

Cautions written in the notifications (most common)

• “If you are taking blood pressure medication, consult your doctor or pharmacist.” (207 notifications)
• “If you are taking medication such as antihypertensive drugs, consult your doctor or pharmacist.” (42 notifications)
• “If you are taking medication that has a blood-pressure-lowering effect, consult your doctor or pharmacist.” (36 notifications)
• “In theory, GABA taken together with antihypertensive drugs may cause low blood pressure, so if you are taking blood pressure medication, consult your doctor or pharmacist about taking this product.” (30 notifications)
• “Taking too much, or depending on your constitution or condition, may loosen your stool.” (5 notifications)
• “Depending on your condition or constitution, allergic symptoms such as a rash may rarely occur.” (2 notifications)
• “Taking a large amount at once may loosen your stool, depending on your constitution.” (2 notifications)

Under Foods with Function Claims, the company notifies the Consumer Affairs Agency of the scientific evidence on its own responsibility; the government does not review or approve it. You can look up each product's notification by the number on the package in the Consumer Affairs Agency's database (Japanese).

In Japan: Foods for Specified Health Uses (FOSHU)

Approved claims by category: Blood pressure 7

FOSHU products are reviewed and approved one by one by the government (Consumer Affairs Agency) for effectiveness and safety. The counts are of products whose functional ingredient matches this ingredient. Source: Consumer Affairs Agency, list of approved FOSHU products (Japanese). Claims are our translation.

In the EU: the register of health claims

Claim not authorised in the EU

• A claim for "maintenance of cognitive function" was submitted, but EFSA found the effect not substantiated and the claim was not authorised (2009 opinion).
• Claims about cholesterol, blood pressure, and body weight for germinated brown rice containing GABA (Vibigaba) were also not authorised (submitted in 2017).

In the EU, only health claims whose evidence has been assessed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and authorised by the European Commission may be used on food. “Not authorised” means the evidence for that claim was not established under EU standards — not that the ingredient is dangerous.

Other ingredients in the same categories

• Lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria
• DHA and EPA
• Coenzyme Q10
• L-theanine
• Hesperidin
• Barley beta-glucan