Evidence supporting the use of: Magnesium
For the health condition: Autism

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Magnesium has been traditionally used as a complementary or alternative therapy for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), particularly in combination with vitamin B6. Interest in magnesium supplementation for autism dates back to the 1960s and 1970s, when Dr. V. M. Bonisch and later Drs. Rimland and Martineau reported improvements in behavior, attention, and social interaction in some autistic children given magnesium and vitamin B6. Several small, open-label and non-randomized trials have since been conducted, often reporting modest improvements in hyperactivity, irritability, or sleep disturbances. However, these studies generally lack rigorous methodology, including small sample sizes, lack of blinding, and inadequate controls, which limits the reliability of the findings.

Scientific reviews and meta-analyses have concluded that the evidence supporting magnesium supplementation for autism is weak and inconsistent. While magnesium is essential for neurological function, and some children with ASD have been reported to have lower magnesium levels, there is no clear evidence that supplementation improves core autism symptoms. The use of magnesium persists largely due to tradition and anecdotal reports rather than strong scientific validation. Most guidelines do not recommend routine magnesium supplementation for autism, except in cases of documented deficiency. In summary, magnesium’s use in autism is mostly traditional, with limited and low-quality scientific evidence.

More about magnesium
More about Autism

Other health conditions supported by magnesium

Addictions (drugs)
Addictions (general remedies for)
Aging (prevention)
Alcoholism
Alkalosis
Alzheimer's Disease
Angina
Anorexia
Anxiety
Anxiety Disorders
Apathy
Arrhythmia
Arteriosclerosis
Arthritis
Asthma
Athletic and Exercise Aids
Attention Deficit Disorder
Autism
Autoimmune Disorders
Backache
Bipolar Mood Disorder
Birth Control (countering side effects)
Body Building
Body Odor
Boils
Broken Bones
Bronchitis
Bulimia
Calcium Deficiency
Calcium Deposits
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)
Canker Sores
Carbuncles
Cardiac Arrest
Cardiovascular Disease
Chest Pain
Colon (atonic)
Dysmenorrhea
Emotional Sensitivity
Endurance (lack of)
Energy (lack of)
Epilepsy
Exercise
Fatigue
Fibromyalgia Syndrome
Headache (cluster)
Headache (tension)
Hearing Loss
Heart (weakness)
Mental Illness
Migraine
Mood Swings
Muscle Tone (lack of)
Nerve Damage
Nervous Exhaustion
Nervousness
Neurosis
Numbness
Osteoporosis
Oxygen Deficiency
Pain (general remedies for)
Paralysis
Pets (supplements for)
PMS (general)
PMS Type A
PMS Type C
PMS Type D
PMS Type H
PMS Type P
Post Partum Depression
Post Partum Weakness
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Pregnancy (herbs and supplements for)
Progesterone (low)
Psoriasis
Restless Leg Syndrome
Rhinitis
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Seizures
Senility
Shock
Skin (dry and/or flaky)
Skin Care (general)
Sleep (restless and disturbed)
Stress
Sugar Cravings
Surgery (healing from)
Surgery (preparation for)
Tachycardia
Tension
Testosterone (low)
Tetanus
Thinking (cloudy)
Tics
Tinnitus
TMJ
Tooth Decay
Toxemia
Triglycerides (high)
Twitching
Wasting
Wheezing
Worry
Wounds and Sores
Adrenal Fatigue
Abscesses
Allergies (respiratory)
Abdominal Pain
Acid Indigestion
Cholesterol (high)
Circulation (poor)
Constipation (adults)
Convulsions
Cramps (leg)
Cramps (menstrual)
Cramps and Spasms
Depression
Diabetes
Digestion (poor)
Dizziness
Gastritis
Headache (general)
Heart Fibrillation or Palpitations
Hypertension
Insomnia