GABA or Gamma Amino Butyric Acid is the most abundant, widespread and important inhibitory neurotransmitter found in central nervous system of all vertebrate animals.

Its primary role in nervous system is to inhibit or check transmission of nerve impulses from one nerve to other or from nerve to any other cells. This feature is also employed by body to stop the over firing or excited stage of some nerve cells.

Low levels of GABA were found in blood and cerebrospinal fluid of depression patients.  This supplement is closely related to depression, anxiety and stress.

V. Uzunova, Y. Sheline, J. M. Davis, A. Rasmussen, D. P. Uzunov, E. Costa, and A. Guidotti.

The Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL 60612;  Psychiatric Services, 116A, West Haven, VA Medical Center, 950 Campbell Avenue, West Haven, CT 06516; and  Department of Psychiatry, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110

Inositol: This naturally occurring master chelator substance in body works best when depression medications are not effective. It is a kind of cellular and molecular level detox and is also a mediator of other healthy chemicals in brain.

Fish Oils or Omega-3 Fatty Acids: The best source of omega-3 fatty acids is fish or fish oil. It contains a healthy ration of omega-3 acids and DHA/EPA. Omega-3 fatty acids are deficient in blood of depression patients. These oils are not definitely the standard treatment but they support the standard treatment and help the persons get rid of depression symptoms earlier.

Omega 3 fatty acids in major depressive disorder. A preliminary double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Eur neuropsycholparmacol. 2003 Aug; 13(4):267-71.

A dose-ranging study of the effects of ethyl-eicosapentaenoate in patients with ongoing depression despite apparently adequate treatment with standard drugs. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2002 Oct; 59(10); 913-9.

Pregnenlone: Pregnenlone is also a natural hormone and works best in elderly depression patients whose blood levels of this hormone is low.

Sam-E: S-adenosyl-L-methionine is a naturally occurring chemical in body that is supposed to increase the level of two important neurotransmitters – dopamine and serotonin. Serotonin is close related with depression. This supplement is sold as over the counter in North America.

Tryptophan: After being discontinued in 1989, this amino acid is again in market now. It is related to the most important neurotransmitters related to depression in human body. Tryptophan gets converted into 5-HTP and 5-HTP into serotonin and serotonin into melatonin. This is one of the chief pathways of tryptophan and it is the main reason for its use as antidepressant supplement. It is supposed to increase the fuel for higher production of other neurotransmitters.