Have any supplements been studied for autism spectrum disorder?

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    Last Updated: October 25, 2023

    Many dietary supplements have been investigated as potential treatments for ASD, including omega-3 fatty acids,[1] melatonin,[2] vitamin-d,[3] and a combination of vitamin-b6 and magnesium.[4] There appears to be little evidence for omega-3 supplementation and some conflicting evidence for vitamin B6 and magnesium cosupplementation in treating the core symptoms of autism. However, correcting low vitamin D status through supplementation shows some promise, and melatonin appears to improve some sleep parameters, thus improving daytime behavior.

    References

    1. ^James S, Montgomery P, Williams KOmega-3 fatty acids supplementation for autism spectrum disorders (ASD)Cochrane Database Syst Rev.(2011 Nov 9)
    2. ^Rossignol DA, Frye REMelatonin in autism spectrum disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysisDev Med Child Neurol.(2011 Sep)
    3. ^Mazahery H, Camargo CA Jr, Conlon C, Beck KL, Kruger MC, von Hurst PRVitamin D and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Literature ReviewNutrients.(2016 Apr 21)
    4. ^Nye C, Brice ACombined vitamin B6-magnesium treatment in autism spectrum disorderCochrane Database Syst Rev.(2005 Oct 19)