Unfortunately, stress is a common, and often unavoidable part of the modern adult lifestyle and our diets do not always provide the necessary nutrients to combat and recover from stress. MetaCalm® provides the amino acid building blocks and the necessary vitamin and mineral cofactors to help the body synthesize both mood-enhancing and calming neurotransmitters. Amino acids like L-theanine can help induce an alert state of relaxation without drowsiness, while GABA and glycine can soothe the effects of excitatory neurotransmitters. 5-HTP is a building block of serotonin, an important mood and stress regulating neurotransmitter. MetaCalm® is a full spectrum nutritional product to encourage relaxation of the central and peripheral nervous system.

What is MetaCalm?

MetaCalm® is a full spectrum nutritional product to encourage relaxation of the central and peripheral nervous systems. MetaCalm® provides a specially designed formula of amino acid building blocks and vitamin and mineral cofactors to help the body synthesize both mood-enhancing and calming neurotransmitters. For example, amino acids like L-theanine can help induce an alert state of relaxation without drowsiness, while GABA and glycine can soothe the effects of excitatory neurotransmitters. 5-HTP is a building block of serotonin, an important mood and stress regulating neurotransmitter.

How does it work in your system?

Studies have suggested that oxidative stress may trigger some neuropsychological disorders. Vitamin C, the most important water-soluble antioxidant in the body, is a cofactor in the biosynthesis of the catecholamine neurotransmitters, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine. The vitamin C in MetaCalm® aids in anxiety management by reducing oxidative stress and limiting action of the stress hormone, cortisol. Evidence from human clinical trials has shown that high doses of vitamin C can, in fact, improve mood as well as anxiety [1]. 

Many other vitamins are involved in regulating brain health. Pyridoxine, also known as vitamin B6, is involved in the synthesis of both neurotransmitters and amino acids and can be stored in the body. B6 has been shown to increase serotonin levels and decrease anxiety in those with premenstrual syndrome [2]. 

Folate, or vitamin B9, is a nutrient that helps synthesize DNA, repair DNA, and prevents anemia. Studies have found a strong connection between folic acid deficiency and anxiety and depression, and some researchers have suggested that supplementation with folate may reduce depression when taken in conjunction with vitamin B12 [3,4]. Vitamin B12 deficiency can also lead to mood problems, including depression and anxiety [5]. The average American diet is low in B12 and may have an effect on mental health, even before reaching the point of deficiency [5].

Inositol was once called B8 and considered a member of the B vitamin family. It shares the qualities of many B vitamins as a stress reducer and mood lifter, although it has more recently been classified as a pseudovitamin, a sugar alcohol closely related to glucose. Inositol accesses stores of calcium in the brain, in turn activating the release of many neurotransmitters, including serotonin, the hormone most commonly tied to peacefulness and pleasure [6]. 

MetaCalm® also contains a proprietary blend of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), taurine, 5-HTP, and L-theanine. GABA is a naturally occurring neurotransmitter that controls brain activity in a variety of ways and regulates muscle tone throughout the body. You can get small amounts from food, but most of it in synthesized in your body from glutamate in a process that is catalyzed, in part, by vitamin B6. Unlike other neurotransmitters, GABA has an inhibitory function; it slows down neuron firing. Most other neurotransmitters (such as adrenaline) have an excitatory function and tend to stimulate neuron firing. Without enough GABA, neurons fire too easily and too often [7]. GABA supplementation is thought to have a natural calming effect and may reduce feelings of anxiety and fear by decreasing neuronal excitability [7]. It is often used as a natural supplement to promote sleep, improve mood and ease premenstrual symptoms.

Taurine is an amino acid and GABA agonist, meaning that it causes more activity at GABA receptors, especially in a regulatory area of the brain called the thalamus, which helps to regulate transitions between sleep and wakefulness. Theanine exhibits its calming effect on the brain by crossing the blood-brain barrier and increasing the production of both GABA and dopamine [8]. 

Magnesium is also important for the function of GABA, enhancing GABA sensitivity on nerve receptors and explaining part of why magnesium is a natural muscle relaxant. Magnesium deficiency is associated with a wide range of symptoms and disorders, including high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid imbalances, anxiety, and insomnia [9]. Mental, emotional and environmental stressors can inhibit magnesium absorption, as well as the processing of some drugs (diuretics, antibiotics, oral contraceptives, insulin, cortisone), heavy exercise, diabetes, and gastrointestinal issues such as IBS [10]. 

Zinc is an essential element (meaning necessary in the diet) that interacts with both GABA and glutamate receptors in the central nervous system. Probably due to this relationship, zinc exhibits effects on both anxiety and locomotor activity in a dose-dependent manner [11]. A daily intake of zinc is required for homeostasis as the body has no specialized way to store it. 

5-hydroxytryptophan, better known as 5-HTP, is a precursor for the production of serotonin, which can be converted into the hormone melatonin. Melatonin plays an important role in regulating sleep. In a healthy body, levels of melatonin rise naturally in the evening to promote sleep and fall in the morning to help wake you up. Many experts recommend supplementing 5-HTP in combination with GABA to improve sleep, as these two chemical messengers appear to have a synergistic effect on both the quality and duration of sleep.

What are the Suggested Uses for MetaCalm®?

• Mood Balance – Provides B vitamin cofactors and amino acids for neurotransmitter synthesis to support both calming and mood-balancing pathways.
• Stress Management – Calms the body without sedating.
• Encourages sound and restful sleep – Non-habit forming nutritional support for the body’s natural sleep/wake systems without grogginess.

References:

1. Ribeiro, C. U. “Effects of oral vitamin C supplementation on anxiety in students: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.” Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences 18.1 (2015): 11-8.
2. Kashanian, M., R. Mazinani, and S. Jalalmanesh. “Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) therapy for premenstrual syndrome.” International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics 96.1 (2007): 43-44.
3. Bender, Ansley, Kelsey E. Hagan, and Neal Kingston. “The association of folate and depression: A meta-analysis.” Journal of psychiatric research 95 (2017): 9-18.
4. Coppen, Alec, and Christina Bolander-Gouaille. “Treatment of depression: time to consider folic acid and vitamin B12.” Journal of Psychopharmacology 19.1 (2005): 59-65.
5. Elstgeest, L. E. M., et al. “Vitamin B 12, homocysteine and depressive symptoms: a longitudinal study among older adults.” European journal of clinical nutrition 71.4 (2017): 468.
6. Levine, Joseph, et al. “Combination of inositol and serotonin reuptake inhibitors in the treatment of depression.” Biological Psychiatry 45.3 (1999): 270-273.
7. Kalueff, Allan V., and David J. Nutt. “Role of GABA in anxiety and depression.” Depression and anxiety 24.7 (2007): 495-517.
8. Nathan, Pradeep J., et al. “The neuropharmacology of L-theanine (N-ethyl-L-glutamine) a possible neuroprotective and cognitive enhancing agent.” Journal of Herbal Pharmacotherapy 6.2 (2006): 21-30.
9. Villines, Zawn. “What to know about magnesium deficiency”. Medical News Today. May 5, 2018. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321735.php
10. NIH. “Magnesium Fact Sheet for Health Professionals”. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Accessed Oct 15, 2019. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/#h5
11. Russo, A. J. “Decreased zinc and increased copper in individuals with anxiety.” Nutrition and metabolic insights 4 (2011): NMI-S6349.