A probiotic marketed as GABA Probiotic LP815 by Verb Biotics was found to support sleep quality, stress, and production of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter linked to relaxation, in a clinical study published in Nature Scientific Reports.

The double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study on 138 participants found that LP815 significantly improved sleep quality, reduced time to fall asleep, and improved total and deep sleep durations.

“LP815 is a proprietary strain of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum isolated from over 250 million variants for its ability to produce high levels of GABA within the GI tract,” said Noah Zimmerman, chief scientific officer at Verb Biotics. “When given orally, LP815 acts as a GABA factory in the gut; delivering GABA through oral ingestion while working with one’s existing gut microbiota to produce additional GABA.”

Key findings included:

• 77.3% of LP815 participants showed a ≥4-point improvement in sleep by week 6
• 100% of women participants on LP815 reported improved sleep by week 6
• Data collected from Oura rings confirmed measurable gains in total sleep, deep sleep, and reduced sleep latency (p<0.05)
• Urinary GABA levels significantly increased within the first week and remained stable through week 6, correlating with better sleep and reduced stress
• 40% of participants experienced a decrease in the severity of night sweats by week 6
• Elevated stable GABA levels by day 7 correlated with better sleep quality and mood
• No gastrointestinal symptoms or adverse effects were reported, indicating excellent tolerability of LP815

“This trial validates the power of precision probiotics to go beyond digestive support,” said Todd Beckman, CEO of Verb Biotics. “With LP815, we’re showing that targeted microbial strains can modulate the gut-brain axis to help people sleep better and feel better.”