Could a common brain chemical soothe your gut? small study investigates

This study tested whether a food supplement containing GABA (a natural brain chemical) and lemon balm could improve quality of life and ease abdominal discomfort in people with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D). Twenty participants took either the supplement or a placebo for a period, then switched, while researchers tracked their symptoms, gut bacteria, and inflammation. The goal was to see if this supplement could offer a new way to manage the challenging symptoms of IBS-D.