Job insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant mental health burden among young adults, according to market survey results. These factors are likely to affect sleep patterns, a phenomenon that may have serious downstream impacts on physical and mental health. When people have trouble sleeping, they may take sleeping pills, medication or alcohol. However, substance misuse or withdrawal from drugs can cause sleep problems or make them worse. Therefore, nutritional supplements with γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) may prevent people from attraction of medication and alcohol.
 
γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an amino acid produced naturally in the brain. GABA functions as a neurotransmitter, facilitating communication among brain cells. It can reduce the activity of neurons in the brain and central nervous system, which in turn has a broad range of effects on the body and mind, including increased relaxation, reduced stress, balanced mood, alleviation of pain, and a boost to sleep.
 
Nowadays, there are three production methods of GABA, which are chemical synthesis, biological extraction and microbial fermentation.

1. Chemical synthesis
With high temperature reaction, phthalimide potassium salt and γ-chlorobutyronitrile can synthesis GABA. However, GABA produced from this method cannot be made into food due to the chemical solvent residues.

2. Biological extraction
With enzyme reaction, varieties grains can be made into GABA. This method can only have few production and it results in a higher cost.

3. Microbial fermentation
Most of the nutritional supplements market through a fermentation process using lactic acid bacteria to produce GABA. With generally recognized as safe lactic acid bacteria, it can have high production.
 
Synbio-GABA is produced by natural fermentation technology with a unique lactic acid bacterial strain, which has better bioavailability and safety than GABA made by chemical synthesis. It is natural, healthy, and effective. Due to the COVID-19, the nutritional supplements market of GABA is expected to grow exponentially. GABA, a natural stress reliever, can be a nutritional supplement to induce relaxation, but also can combine with probiotics to maintain gut microbiota.

Reference:
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[​2] Franco, L., Sánchez, C., Bravo, R., Rodríguez, A. B., Barriga, C., Romero, E., & Cubero, J. (2012). The sedative effect of non-alcoholic beer in healthy female nurses. PloS one, 7(7), e37290.
[​3] Abdou, A. M., Higashiguchi, S., Horie, K., Kim, M., Hatta, H., & Yokogoshi, H. (2006). Relaxation and immunity enhancement effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) administration in humans. BioFactors (Oxford, England), 26(3), 201–208.
[​4] Yoto, A., Murao, S., Motoki, M., Yokoyama, Y., Horie, N., Takeshima, K., Masuda, K., Kim, M., & Yokogoshi, H. (2012). Oral intake of γ-aminobutyric acid affects mood and activities of central nervous system during stressed condition induced by mental tasks. Amino acids, 43(3), 1331–1337.