Magnesium and ADHD: Benefits, risks, dosage, and more

Some research suggests that magnesium supplementation may help improve symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adults, but more research is necessary.

ADHD can affect a person’s focus and may cause hyperactivity, impulsivity, or inattention. Treatment may involve medications and behavioral therapy to manage someone’s symptoms, but some research suggests magnesium may also have beneficial effects.

People should always consult a doctor before taking magnesium supplements, as they can interact with other medications and may cause adverse effects in high doses.

A 2019 meta-analysis found that people with ADHD had lower magnesium levels in the blood than those without ADHD. Based on these findings, the authors suggested that magnesium supplementation may be beneficial for people with ADHD.

However, the authors highlight several limitations in their research, including a small number of eligible studies. They call for further research into ADHD and magnesium levels.

A small 2020 study investigated the effect of an 8-week course of combined magnesium and vitamin D supplementation on behavioral issues in 66 children with ADHD.

The children who received the supplements showed a significant increase in magnesium and vitamin D levels in the blood and a significant decrease in the following ADHD symptoms:

The study authors suggest magnesium plays an important role in regulating various brain functions and ensuring the proper function of neurotransmitters, including dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, making it a potential therapeutic agent for ADHD.

Some researchers suggest low levels of dopaminergic receptors may link to ADHD.

People should speak with their doctor before taking magnesium supplements.

Certain medications that a doctor may prescribe for ADHD, including methylphenidate (Ritalin) and dextroamphetamine and amphetamine (Adderall), may interact with various vitamins and supplements.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), high intake of magnesium can cause side effects, such as:

Extremely high intake can cause irregular heartbeat and cardiac arrest.

The NIH recommends the following daily intake of magnesium in milligrams (mg) according to life stage:

Magnesium supplement dosages for ADHD vary in research. In the 2020 study, participants took 6 mg of magnesium per kilogram of body weight for 8 weeks.

However, a 2024 review warns that high quality, large-scale, longitudinal studies are necessary to support magnesium supplementation for ADHD, including optimal supplement types, dosages, and durations for safe and effective clinical use.

Research suggests that the following vitamins and supplements may also be helpful for people with ADHD:

In the 2020 study, researchers associated combined vitamin D and magnesium supplementation with improvements in several ADHD symptoms in children, including conduct problems and anxiety.

A 2017 systematic review of 16 studies investigated the effect of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid supplementation on children and young people with ADHD.

Each study involved a treatment group that received the supplement and a control group that received a placebo. Overall, those who received the supplement showed improvements in a range of ADHD symptoms, including:

A 2022 study investigated the effect of iron supplementation in 116 children with ADHD.

In the study, 52 children (45%) were deficient in iron. Of these 52 children, 26 received iron supplements, and 26 received a placebo. Most of the children were also taking medication for ADHD.

Following the 12-week study period, parental reports indicated a significant improvement in ADHD symptoms among children in the treatment group versus the placebo group. However, teacher reports indicated no difference.

A 2021 systematic review of iron and zinc in ADHD treatment cautions that further research is needed to support the use of mineral supplementation as an effective add-on treatment for ADHD.

Magnesium and other important vitamins and minerals are present in food. A 2023 review states that some research suggests diet may play a role in ADHD management, but no research proves the theory that diet may cause ADHD.

The review authors conclude that more research is necessary to support supplements as an ADHD remedy. However, people with ADHD may benefit from a balanced diet that limits or eliminates foods such as:

People can speak with a healthcare professional if they are interested in making dietary adjustments as a way to potentially manage ADHD symptoms.

A person could speak with a doctor if they believe that they or their child may have ADHD. ADHD symptoms may present as mostly inattentive, mostly hyperactive-impulsive, or a combination of the two.

Possible signs of ADHD in adults include:

In children, ADHD symptoms may interfere with home or school life and friendships. Some possible signs of ADHD in children include:

A person should also talk with a doctor if they are taking ADHD medication or any other type of medication and would like to start taking a supplement. A doctor can advise whether a particular supplement is safe to take.

Some research suggests that people with ADHD may be deficient in magnesium. Some of this research also suggests that magnesium supplementation can help improve certain symptoms of ADHD in children and adults.

Magnesium plays an important role in regulating neurotransmitters and important brain functions. This may contribute to the supplement’s potential benefits for people with ADHD.

Certain supplements can interact with the medications a person takes. Anyone taking ADHD medication or any other type of medication should consult their doctor before starting a supplement.