This section provides an overview of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), covering its manufacturing processes, regulatory status, and applications in the food, feed, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries. Also, please check out the introduction to GABA manufacturers, supply chain issues, GABA suppliers, and GABA prices. Sinofi can help you buy gamma-aminobutyric acid at bulk wholesale prices based on CAS 56-12-2 and FEMA 4288.
Table of Contents
What is Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)?
Gamma-aminobutyric acid, commonly named γ-aminobutyric acid and GABA, has attracted sustained commercial interest as a functional ingredient in foods, beverages, and dietary supplements, and as a structural template for several important pharmaceutical agents. It is best known to the general public as the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter of the mammalian central nervous system. While melatonin is a hormone that reduces alertness and helps synchronize the clock by binding to receptors in the brain, primarily MT1 and MT2 receptors. Gamma-aminobutyric acid is a four-carbon, non-proteinogenic amino acid. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), gamma-aminobutyric acid is approved to be used as a flavoring agent or adjuvant.
Regulatory Status and Safety Considerations
Gamma-aminobutyric acid has been evaluated by major regulatory bodies like JECFA, EFSA, CosIng, ECHACHEM, NIST, and Food Standards Agency. The regulatory treatment of GABA varies considerably by market, and formulators must verify the current position in each target jurisdiction before commercialization. In the United States, GABA has been the subject of GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) notifications for specified uses in foods and beverages, and it is widely used in dietary supplements. In Japan, GABA has a long history of use and is one of the most frequently registered ingredients under the Foods with Function Claims system, appearing in products ranging from chocolate to green tea. In the European Union, the situation is more restrictive: GABA added as an isolated substance is generally regarded as falling within novel food or food supplement frameworks depending on use and dosage, and permissible daily intakes and claims are subject to member-state and EFSA-level scrutiny. China, South Korea, and several Southeast Asian markets each maintain their own approval pathways and maximum use levels. Because these positions are periodically revised, regulatory confirmation should be treated as a live checkpoint in the product development stage-gate process rather than a one-time review.
Natural Occurrence and Biological Role
GABA occurs naturally in a wide range of plant and fermented foods. Germinated brown rice is perhaps the best-documented dietary source, and measurable quantities are also found in tomatoes, spinach, tea leaves, and certain fermented products such as kimchi, tempeh, and aged cheeses. In plants, GABA accumulates in response to abiotic stress; in fermented foods, it is generated by lactic acid bacteria that express the enzyme glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), which converts L-glutamic acid to GABA with the release of carbon dioxide.
In human physiology, GABA functions as the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, moderating neuronal excitability throughout the nervous system. This biological role underpins the ingredient’s positioning in the functional food market, where it is associated with claims related to relaxation, improved sleep onset, and the mitigation of temporary stress. It should be noted that the extent to which orally ingested GABA crosses the blood-brain barrier remains a subject of ongoing scientific discussion, and several researchers attribute observed physiological effects to peripheral mechanisms, including activity within the enteric nervous system.
CAS No.: 56-12-2
According to the American Chemical Society, the CAS number of gamma-aminobutyric acid is 56-12-2.
CAS Name: γ-Aminobutyric acid
Molecular Formula: C4H9NO2
Molecular Mass: 103.12
Appearance: White crystalline powder
Food Chemicals Codex Listed: No
Melting Point: 200.00 to 201.00 °C. @ 760.00 mm Hg
Boiling Point: 248.00 to 249.00 °C. @ 760.00 mm Hg
Solubility: Slightly soluble in water; soluble in many non-polar solvents
Other Names:
♦ Butanoic acid, 4-amino-
♦ Butyric acid, 4-amino-
♦ 4-Aminobutanoic acid
♦γ-Aminobutyric acid
♦ GABA
♦ Gamma-aminobutyric acid
♦ 4-Aminobutyric acid
♦ Piperidinic acid
♦ Piperidic acid
♦ Gammalon
♦γ-Aminobutanoic acid
♦ Aminalon
♦ω-Aminobutyric acid
♦ 3-Carboxypropylamine
Bulk GABA Manufacturers
The GABA production is expected to continue expanding as consumers increasingly seek natural solutions for stress, sleep, and cognitive wellness. Top GABA manufacturers like Pharma Foods International play a critical role in supplying high-volume raw materials to supplement brands, pharmaceutical companies, and food ingredient producers. The competitive landscape is mainly concentrated in Asia, particularly Japan and China, where large-scale fermentation capabilities and mature amino acid manufacturing infrastructure have been developed. Commodity synthetic and fermented powder will remain price-competitive and widely available from Chinese capacity, while branded fermented material sustains a premium supported by clinical documentation and ingredient-brand recognition. China has become one of the world’s largest suppliers of bulk GABA due to:
- Large fermentation capacity
- Established amino acid manufacturing infrastructure
- Competitive production costs
- Strong export capabilities
Chinese manufacturers commonly supply:
- Food-grade GABA powder
- Nutraceutical-grade GABA
- High-purity pharmaceutical intermediates
Sinofi is a bulk GABA manufacturer in China, and we have a manufacturing facility with 2,500 square meters for the production of gamma-aminobutyric acid. We supply high-quality GABA powder at bulk prices and serve food, feed, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries worldwide.
Manufacturing Process of Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)
The industrial manufacture of GABA illustrates a transition that is characteristic of modern fine-chemical production: a compound once made exclusively by energy-intensive chemical synthesis is now produced predominantly by enzymatic and fermentative processes that are milder, cleaner, and better aligned with food and pharmaceutical regulation.
Chemical Synthesis Routes
The earliest industrial preparations of GABA relied on conventional organic synthesis. One well-established route proceeds through the hydrolytic ring-opening of 2-pyrrolidone (gamma-butyrolactam). The lactam is heated with an aqueous solution of a strong base, typically calcium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide, at elevated temperature and pressure. Ring-opening affords the corresponding gamma-aminobutyrate salt, which is subsequently acidified and worked up to yield the free amino acid. A related approach begins with gamma-butyrolactone, which is converted to a gamma-halobutyric acid derivative and then subjected to ammonolysis with excess ammonia; the excess is required to suppress the formation of secondary and tertiary amine byproducts. A third, more classical laboratory route follows the Gabriel synthesis, in which potassium phthalimide is alkylated with a gamma-halobutyronitrile or gamma-halobutyrate ester, and the resulting intermediate is hydrolyzed to liberate the primary amine.
These chemical routes are technically robust and readily scaled, but they suffer from several disadvantages. The reaction conditions are energy-intensive, the reagents and solvents raise environmental and safety concerns, and the crude products contain byproducts such as pyrrolidone residues and halide salts that must be removed through extensive purification. For food-grade and pharmaceutical-grade material, these impurity burdens and the associated regulatory scrutiny have rendered chemical synthesis progressively less attractive.
Enzymatic Bioconversion
The dominant biological strategy exploits the enzyme glutamate decarboxylase (GAD, EC 4.1.1.15), a pyridoxal-5′-phosphate-dependent enzyme that catalyzes the irreversible alpha-decarboxylation of L-glutamic acid to GABA with the release of carbon dioxide. In industrial practice, the substrate is usually L-glutamic acid or its inexpensive, highly soluble sodium salt, monosodium glutamate, which is produced by fermentation at enormous scale and is therefore available at low cost.
Microbial Fermentation
The second biological route is direct fermentation, in which living microorganisms synthesize GABA during growth. Lactic acid bacteria, notably Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Lactococcus lactis, are the most widely used producers because many strains possess a native GAD system and hold a long history of safe use in food. Fermentation media are formulated from carbohydrate sources, nitrogen sources such as yeast extract, and added L-glutamate or glutamate-rich raw materials; certain traditional processes employ Monascus fungi on rice substrates for the same purpose. The organisms decarboxylate glutamate as part of an acid-resistance mechanism, exporting GABA in exchange for imported glutamate and thereby counteracting the acidification of their own cytoplasm.
Fermentations are typically conducted in stirred-tank bioreactors in batch or fed-batch mode at 30 to 37 degrees Celsius over 24 to 96 hours, with glutamate fed incrementally to avoid substrate inhibition. Titers from wild-type strains are lower than those obtained by enzymatic conversion, but strain improvement through mutagenesis and metabolic engineering has narrowed the gap considerably. Fermentation-derived GABA is especially valued in the functional food sector, where a naturally fermented origin carries both regulatory and marketing advantages.
Bulk GABA Suppliers
A small number of branded fermentation GABA producers command premium positioning and regulatory documentation, while a large and fragmented cohort of Chinese suppliers and trading intermediaries competes almost entirely on price. Top GABA suppliers like Pharma Foods International hold the strongest regulatory documentation position in the category, having filed GRAS notices with the US FDA.
Sinofi is a bulk GABA supplier in China, and we have a warehouse with 1,200 square meters for high-quality gamma-aminobutyric acid powder. We sell different grades of GABA at wholesale prices, serving end-users in food, feed, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries.
Supply Chain of Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)
The GABA supply chain is constructive. Fermentation process improvements continue to compress production costs, regulatory pathways in major markets are gradually maturing, and demand tailwinds from the global sleep, stress, and cognitive wellness categories show no sign of abating. China currently represents a major production center due to its fermentation capacity and cost advantages, while Japan remains a leader in functional GABA applications and quality-oriented innovation.
Supply Chain Structure
The GABA supply chain can be understood as a five-stage structure: upstream raw material supply, midstream primary production, downstream formulation and application, and final distribution to end users. Each stage carries distinct economics, risk profiles, and competitive dynamics.
Upstream: Raw Materials and Inputs
The dominant commercial route to GABA is microbial fermentation, in which glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) enzymes convert L-glutamic acid or monosodium glutamate (MSG) into GABA through irreversible alpha-decarboxylation. The upstream tier therefore consists primarily of suppliers of glutamate feedstock, fermentation substrates such as glucose and molasses, nutrient media, and microbial strains.
Because glutamate is itself an industrial fermentation product derived from sugar crops such as corn, sugarcane, and cassava, GABA economics are indirectly exposed to agricultural commodity cycles, energy prices, and the structure of the global MSG industry, which is heavily concentrated in China. A secondary upstream stream supplies chemical synthesis routes, which rely on petrochemical intermediates such as gamma-butyrolactone or pyrrolidone derivatives; this route persists mainly for technical-grade material, since food and supplement markets strongly favor fermentation-derived, “naturally produced” GABA.
Midstream: Primary Production
Primary producers operate fermentation facilities in which selected or engineered strains convert glutamate into GABA in controlled bioreactors. Yield, titer, and conversion efficiency are the central competitive variables at this stage, and recent process innovations, including two-step fermentation, co-culture strategies, immobilized enzyme systems, and metabolic pathway engineering, have progressively lowered unit costs and improved batch consistency. Production is geographically concentrated: China accounts for most global output, with some industry reports attributing roughly seventy percent of production to Chinese facilities, while Japan represents the second-largest production base and the historical center of food-grade GABA innovation.
Downstream: Formulation and Application
Standardized GABA powder flows to four principal application channels. Dietary supplements and functional foods and beverages constitute the largest and fastest-growing outlet, encompassing capsules, gummies, relaxation beverages, GABA-enriched chocolate, and fermented dairy products. The pharmaceutical and clinical nutrition channel uses GABA and its derivatives in research and adjunct therapeutic contexts. Animal feed represents a volume-driven, price-sensitive channel in which GABA is used to mitigate heat stress and improve feed intake in livestock and aquaculture. Finally, agricultural and cosmetic applications, including biostimulant formulations and topical anti-aging products, form a smaller but expanding niche.
Distribution and End Markets
Finished ingredients and products reach end users through a layered distribution network of specialty ingredient distributors, B2B chemical trading platforms, contract manufacturers, and, for consumer products, retail pharmacies, supermarkets, specialty health stores, and rapidly growing e-commerce channels. Cross-border trade flows run predominantly from Chinese and Japanese production hubs to formulation and consumption centers in North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia, making the category sensitive to freight costs, tariff regimes, and import registration timelines.
Wholesale and Buy Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) in Bulk
Wholesale procurement of gamma-aminobutyric acid rewards diligence. By verifying certifications and analytical documentation, understanding the regulatory landscape of each destination market, negotiating clear commercial terms, and cultivating relationships with more than one qualified manufacturer, a purchasing manager can secure a stable supply of high-quality GABA at a competitive landed cost.
Understanding the Product
In commercial applications, it is valued as an ingredient in stress-support and sleep-support supplements, functional beverages, chewable tablets, gummies, and certain sports nutrition formulations. Food-grade GABA is typically supplied as a white to off-white crystalline powder with a minimum assay of 99 percent, offered in standard mesh sizes that facilitate blending, tableting, and encapsulation.
Two production methods dominate the market. Fermentation-derived GABA, produced using Lactobacillus strains, is generally preferred for products marketed with natural positioning and often commands a price premium. Chemically synthesized GABA remains widely available and can be appropriate where cost efficiency is the primary driver and label claims permit. Purchasing managers should confirm the production method with each supplier, as it affects pricing, regulatory positioning, and customer acceptance.
Why Buy GABA Powder in Bulk
Purchasing GABA at wholesale volumes delivers several commercial advantages. Unit pricing improves significantly at volume tiers, with meaningful breaks typically beginning at 500 kilograms and again at the metric-ton level. Bulk procurement also secures supply continuity for production planning, reduces the administrative burden of frequent reordering, and strengthens the buyer’s negotiating position on payment terms, freight arrangements, and priority allocation during periods of tight supply. Because GABA is chemically stable when stored correctly, it tolerates extended warehousing without significant loss of potency, which makes larger order quantities practical.
Supplier Qualification
Supplier selection is the most consequential decision in the procurement process. A credible GABA supplier should be able to demonstrate the following:
Manufacturing certifications, including ISO 9001, HACCP, and current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) compliance, along with Kosher and Halal certificates where the buyer’s markets require them. A complete Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for each lot, covering assay, loss on drying, residue on ignition, heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury), and microbiological limits. Supporting documentation such as safety data sheets, specification sheets, flow charts of the production process, allergen and GMO statements, and stability data.
Regulatory Considerations
Regulatory status varies by market, and purchasing managers should align sourcing decisions with the compliance requirements of the regions in which finished products will be sold. In the United States, GABA is commonly used as a dietary supplement ingredient, and suppliers frequently hold self-affirmed GRAS determinations for specific food applications. In the European Union, its permitted uses are more restricted, and buyers should verify the current position with regulatory counsel before committing to volume. Japan has a long history of GABA use in functional foods, and Japanese-standard material is often regarded as a quality benchmark. Import documentation, tariff classification, and any required registrations should be confirmed before the first purchase order is issued.
As a bulk GABA manufacturer and supplier in China, we wholesale this ingredient to end users in food, feed, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries. We also supply gamma-aminobutyric acid to small customers. Normally, they want to buy GABA in small quantities. To serve them, we can sell gamma-aminobutyric acid at bulk prices and provide a one-stop purchasing service.
Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Prices (USD/Kg)
Synthetic Grade Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Prices (USP/EP, HPLC Content >=99.0%)
| Volume | Unit Price | Shipment |
| 50g | 5 USD | Express |
| 500g | 20 USD | Express |
| 1Kg | 28 USD/Kg | Express |
| 25Kg | 22.5 USD/Kg | Express |
| 100Kg | >=30% cheaper | Express / Sea |
| 200Kg-Above | negotiable | Express / Sea |
Bio-Fermentation Grade Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Prices (Naturally Equivalent, Content >=99.0%)
| Volume | Unit Price | Shipment |
| 50g | 30 USD | Express |
| 500g | 126 USD | Express |
| 1Kg | 180 USD/Kg | Express |
| 25Kg | 144USD/Kg | Express |
| 100Kg | >=30% cheaper | Express / Sea |
| 200Kg-Above | negotiable | Express / Sea |
Bulk GABA pricing spans a wide band determined chiefly by purity and source. Food-grade synthetic GABA typically clears at roughly USD 10–30 per kilogram FOB China (falling toward USD 10 per kilogram or lower at metric-ton volumes). The feed-grade GABA price is only half that of food-grade GABA if the order quantity reaches 5 metric tons. Fermentation is now the dominant and structurally advantaged production route, prized for its natural/clean-label positioning. Bio-fermentation grade GABA price can reach USD 150–280 per kilogram.
Furthermore, the above GABA price quotations do not include the express fee. The reason is that the shipment cost may exceed the sample value of gamma-aminobutyric acid. However, the bulk wholesale prices of GABA will be much lower than those of small orders. Please contact us for more details.
Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Specification
| Appearance | White crystalline powder |
| Purity (On dry basis) | >=99% |
| Loss on Drying (%) | <=0.5 |
| Residue on Ignition (%) | <=0.1 |
| pH (5% solution) | 6.5-7.5 |
| Heavy Metals (as Pb, ppm) | <=10 |
| Arsenic (ppm) | <=1.0 |
| Lead (ppm) | <=0.5 |
| Melting Point (°C) | 200-204 |
Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Uses
Gamma-aminobutyric acid occupies a distinctive position at the intersection of neuroscience, medicine, and consumer health. As the brain’s principal inhibitory neurotransmitter, it is the target of major drug classes used to treat anxiety, epilepsy, insomnia, and spasticity.
Pharmaceutical Applications
The most consequential uses of GABA are indirect: rather than administering the molecule itself, medicine has largely focused on drugs that enhance or modulate GABA signaling. Benzodiazepines, such as diazepam and lorazepam, bind to the GABA-A receptor and amplify the effect of naturally released GABA. This mechanism underlies their effectiveness as anxiolytics, sedatives, muscle relaxants, and anticonvulsants. Barbiturates and certain general anesthetics, including propofol, likewise act on GABA-A receptors, while the medication baclofen targets GABA-B receptors and is prescribed to relieve muscle spasticity in conditions such as multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury.
Dietary Supplements and Functional Foods
GABA itself is sold widely as an over-the-counter dietary supplement, typically marketed for relaxation, stress reduction, and improved sleep. It is produced commercially through microbial fermentation, most often using strains of Lactobacillus, and is available in capsules, powders, chewable tablets, and beverages. In Japan and other parts of East Asia, GABA has been incorporated into functional foods for decades; GABA-enriched green tea, chocolate, and germinated brown rice are established consumer products, and fermented foods such as kimchi, tempeh, and certain aged cheeses naturally contain measurable quantities of the compound.
Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research
Beyond relaxation and sleep, GABA has attracted research interest for possible effects on blood pressure. Several trials, including studies of GABA-enriched fermented milk products, have reported modest reductions in blood pressure among individuals with mild hypertension, an effect attributed to GABA’s influence on the sympathetic nervous system and vascular tone.
Agricultural Uses
The primary use of GABA in agriculture is in animal feed. Its function is to effectively prevent heat stress in dairy cows and laying hens, preventing a decline in milk and egg production due to high temperatures. In plants, GABA functions as a signaling molecule involved in stress responses, and agricultural researchers have explored its application to crops to improve tolerance to drought, salinity, and temperature extremes.
Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Benefits
Gamma-aminobutyric acid is indispensable to human physiology, serving as the nervous system’s primary brake on excessive neural activity. As a supplement, GABA shows preliminary promise for promoting relaxation, modestly supporting sleep onset, and potentially contributing to blood pressure management, yet the evidence base remains limited, and the question of how oral GABA exerts its effects is not fully resolved.
The Physiological Role of GABA
Within the brain, GABA is essential to healthy neurological function. By moderating neuronal activity, it contributes to the regulation of anxiety, stress responses, muscle tone, and sleep architecture. Many widely used medications exert their effects by enhancing GABA signaling. Benzodiazepines, certain anticonvulsants, and some anesthetics all act on GABA receptors, which illustrates how central this neurotransmitter is to calming excessive neural activity. Conditions associated with disrupted GABA signaling include anxiety disorders, epilepsy, insomnia, and certain movement disorders, although the relationships are complex and rarely attributable to GABA alone.
Stress Reduction and Relaxation
The most frequently cited benefit of supplemental GABA is the promotion of relaxation. Several small human studies have reported that oral GABA intake is associated with changes in brainwave activity, specifically an increase in alpha waves, which are linked to a relaxed but alert mental state, and a reduction in beta waves, which are associated with stress and vigilance. Some trials have also observed reduced markers of psychological stress, such as salivary cortisol, in participants performing stressful tasks after consuming GABA. These findings are encouraging but preliminary, as the studies involved were generally small, short in duration, and sometimes funded by supplement manufacturers.
Sleep Support
Because GABA signaling is integral to the initiation and maintenance of sleep, supplemental GABA is often marketed as a sleep aid. A limited number of studies suggest that oral GABA may modestly reduce the time required to fall asleep. The evidence for improvements in overall sleep quality or duration is weaker and less consistent. Individuals with persistent sleep difficulties should regard GABA as, at best, a modest adjunct rather than a substitute for evaluation of underlying causes and evidence-based treatments.
Blood Pressure
Several small clinical trials, many conducted with GABA-enriched foods such as fermented milk products, have reported modest reductions in blood pressure among participants with mildly elevated readings. The proposed mechanism involves GABA receptors in the peripheral nervous system and blood vessels. While these results are of interest, they do not establish GABA as a treatment for hypertension, and anyone managing high blood pressure should do so under medical supervision.
Other Areas of Investigation
Researchers have explored additional roles for GABA, including possible effects on growth hormone secretion following exercise, athletic recovery, and metabolic health, particularly in relation to pancreatic function. These lines of inquiry remain at an early stage, and no firm conclusions can be drawn from the available data.
A Herbal Composition for Improving Sleep Quality Using GABA
Include the following ingredients (by weight):
Processed Polygonatum extract, 30 parts; stir-fried Ziziphus jujuba seed extract, 20 parts; Lilium brownii extract, 15 parts; gamma-aminobutyric acid, 5 parts; melatonin, 1 part; and pharmaceutically or food-grade excipients.
The processed Polygonatum extract is obtained by water extraction and alcohol precipitation of Polygonatum sibiricum processed by a nine-steaming and nine-drying process, wherein the content of Polygonatum sibiricum polysaccharides is not less than 50%; the stir-fried Ziziphus jujuba seed extract is obtained by supercritical CO2 extraction of Ziziphus jujuba seeds after gentle stir-frying, wherein the total content of spinosin and jujuboside A is not less than 3%; the Lilium brownii extract is obtained by microwave-assisted eutectic solvent extraction from Lilium brownii bulbs, wherein the total content of Lilium brownii polysaccharides and Lilium brownii saponins is not less than 40%.
In conclusion, gamma-aminobutyric acid has evolved from a niche sleep aid into one of the most commercially significant ingredients in the global food, feed, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries. As a bulk gamma-aminobutyric acid manufacturer and supplier in China, we sell different grades of gamma-aminobutyric acid at wholesale prices to clients around the world.