Could Bacopa monnieri benefit children?

A 2016 systematic review of 5 studies using Bacopa monnieri in child and adolescent participants found that supplementation may improve behavioral and cognitive outcomes.^[1] However, two of the studies had no control group. More robust study designs are needed to determine the efficacy of Bacopa in children and adolescents. There was also a 2022 randomized controlled trial investigating the efficacy of Bacopa monnieri’s ability to reduce attention and hyperactivity in male children ages 6 to 14.^[2] No differences were noted for behavioral outcomes, but there were some improvements in the Bacopa group for certain cognitive outcomes, such as cognitive flexibility and processing speed. It is essential for parents to discuss supplements with a clinician before administering them to a child, as children can have different reactions to supplements than adults.