Even though chemically it is an amino acid , GABA is rarely referred to as such in the scientific or medical communities . The term `` amino acid , '' used without a qualifier , refers to the alpha amino acids , which GABA is not . Although chemically it is an amino acid , GABA is rarely referred to as such in the scientific or medical communities , because the term `` amino acid , '' used without a qualifier , conventionally refers to the alpha amino acids , which GABA is not , nor is it a protein .