Grow Youthful: How to Slow Your Aging and Enjoy Extraordinary Health
Grow Youthful: How to Slow Your Aging and Enjoy Extraordinary Health

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB)

What is GHB?

GHB properties

The campaign against GHB

So how do you get GHB?

GHB overdose, contraindications

References

What is GHB?

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (also known as y-hydroxybutyric acid, y-hydroxybutyrate or GHB) is a naturally-occurring molecule in every mammal's brain. It is a precursor to GABA, glutamate and glycine in the brain. GHB produces feelings of euphoria, relaxation, sociability and an increased sex drive.

Soon after its discovery in the 1960s it was used as a general anaesthetic agent, because of its ability to induce a state of deep relaxation and sedation.

Onset of GHB's action is 5 to 15 minutes after taking it.

Elimination half-life is 30 to 60 minutes, with most excretion through the kidneys.

GHB properties

The campaign against GHB

GHB used to be a popular supplement in the bodybuilding community, largely because it is a growth hormone promoter. It was widely used as a cheap and effective sleep aid, achieving genuine and deep sleep. However, in the 1990s the FDA and CDC started to publicise misleading anecdotes about it. For example, hospital doctors misinterpreted the brief deep sleep it created on high doses as coma requiring intubation. There was also media hysteria over GHB being used as a date-rape drug.

GHB is a useful, cheap, naturally-occurring molecule with many extraordinary properties and low or no toxicity. Unfortunately this is exactly what is needed to attract the enmity of the pharmaceutical industry, and by the year 2000 GHB was banned in supplements, disparaged as toxic and dangerous, and almost impossible to buy.

So how do you get GHB?

There are no direct food sources of gamma-hydroxybutyrate. However, GHB is synthesised in the brain and liver from the amino acid glutamate. Glutamate occurs naturally in many foods. The richest food source of glutamate is strong cheese like parmesan and Roquefort. Glutamate obtained from natural wild and unprocessed food is healthy, such as in any traditional ancestral diet.

Note: Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is the sodium salt of glutamic acid and is a common food additive. MSG is harmful and you should try to avoid it. MSG is widely used in processed foods, such as a modern factory food diet.

GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid). Foods rich in GABA, such as fermented foods like kimchi, sauerkraut and kefir, may indirectly boost GHB levels by influencing GABA's role in neurotransmission.

Other foods and supplements can influence GHB metabolism and levels in the body. Vitamin B6, magnesium and potassium are thought to play a role in GHB metabolism or synthesis, although the specific mechanisms are not well understood.

Valproic acid inhibits the production of GHB. Certain foods or supplements containing valproic acid, such as valproate-rich foods like spinach, kale and collard greens, may inhibit endogenous GHB production by blocking the conversion of succinic acid semialdehyde to GHB.

GHB overdose, contraindications

There is little information available on GHB supplementation, recommended levels, or overdose because it is illegal to possess, manufacture or distribute it in most Western countries. The dearth of information and the campaign against GHB mean that it is difficult to determine the risks, if any, of supplementing. GHB acts as a nervous system depressant and poses a risk of dependence so high-dose long-term supplementation is not advised.

Under these circumstances it seems that the best and safe approach is to promote the body's own production of GHB through diet and nutritional sufficiency.

Your comments about any of your experiences - positive or negative - with your use of GHB are welcome at Grow Youthful. I am always curious about your use of and experience with natural remedies, and your feedback is very welcome.

References

1. Dornbierer DA, Baur DM, Stucky B, Quednow BB, Kraemer T, Seifritz E, Bosch OG, Landolt HP. Neurophysiological signature of gamma-hydroxybutyrate augmented sleep in male healthy volunteers may reflect biomimetic sleep enhancement: a randomized controlled trial. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2019 Oct;44(11):1985-1993. doi: 10.1038/s41386-019-0382-z. Epub 2019 Apr 8. PMID: 30959514; PMCID: PMC6785068.