Why Magnesium Matters with ADHD

Magnesium is a mineral the body relies on every day to keep things running smoothly. It helps calm the nervous system, allows muscles to relax, and supports healthy brain function. In fact, magnesium is involved in more than 300 tiny processes in the body, many of which affect how we feel and behave.

Because magnesium plays a role in brain messengers like dopamine and GABA (chemicals linked to attention and mood), researchers have long been interested in whether low magnesium levels might play a role in ADHD. 

What does the science suggest?

ADHD, the abbreviation for 'Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder', is a condition involving restlessness, impulsivity, and difficulties with focus, all of which are connected to how our brain systems work.

Current research points to two key takeaways that suggest magnesium may be an important part of supporting daily life with ADHD.

1. Lower levels of magnesium

Several studies have found that children with ADHD are more likely to have reduced levels of magnesium when compared to children without ADHD.³

2. Supplements can improve symptoms

Research suggests that both behavioural function and mental health progress positively when children with ADHD are given magnesium and vitamin D.⁶

1. Lower levels of magnesium

Children with ADHD have been found to have less magnesium in their blood, hair, and red blood cells than children without ADHD.

“Magnesium deficiency was found in 95 percent of children with ADHD.”⁴

A 2019 meta-analysis found that people with ADHD had lower serum levels of magnesium than controls (those tested who did not have ADHD).¹ This refers to the measure of magnesium in the liquid part of the blood. These findings are not the only ones of their kind; a pattern has emerged where magnesium deficiency is associated with ADHD again and again. Another large review found both serum and hair magnesium levels were significantly less in children with ADHD.³

Furthermore, an older but frequently cited study found that 95% of the children with ADHD were magnesium deficient, especially in their hair and red blood cells.⁴

This is not to say that low levels of magnesium can cause ADHD, but being deficient in any nutrient, especially one as crucial as magnesium, means that a person will likely find it harder to function at their best. Instead, low levels of magnesium may be exacerbating symptoms, making the struggles associated with ADHD more challenging than they need to be. The following science supports this:

2. Supplements can improve symptoms

When children with ADHD are given magnesium (often combined with vitamin B6), many studies show improvements in behaviour and focus.

In one study, children given magnesium + vitamin B6 for two months showed fewer problems with: 

• Hyperactivity 
• Aggression
• Attention in school

 In 'almost all cases of ADHD' they studied, magnesium and vitamin B6 'significantly modified the clinical symptoms'.⁵ When the supplement was stopped, the symptoms came back, suggesting that this nutrient boost was directly responsible for the improvements seen.⁵ 

Another study found that children with low hair magnesium who took magnesium saw improved Conners’ behavioural scores compared with those who didn’t take it.² The Conners Rating Scale is used to assess ADHD symptoms in children, understanding an individual's oppositional behaviour, executive function, emotional regulation, learning difficulties, and social challenges as rated by parents. It's one of the most frequently used ADHD assessment tools in education and clinical psychology today, and the study's findings show parents noticing a measurable difference when supplements are taken.

 Beyond just clinical figures like serum levels, this demonstrates a real, lived experience of improvement.

Magnesium can keep the brain’s excitation–inhibition balance in check.

This works by magnesium sitting in the NMDA receptor like a tiny gate, limiting calcium entry until a strong, meaningful signal arrives. When magnesium is low that gate is leakier, excitatory “noise” rises, and inhibitory control has a harder time keeping circuits steady. This can all result in the brain feeling more jittery, distractible, and less able to hold attention.

Better together

Whilst magnesium seems to be the hero of these studies, there is science-backed evidence to suggest that co-supplementation could best improve the behaviour and mental health of those with ADHD. A more recent trial combining vitamin D with magnesium found that children given both supplements had improved psychological well-being, as well as better behaviour, than those who were given a placebo.⁶

If you're looking for magnesium, vitamin B6, and vitamin D that is both effective and gentle, Mighty Kids can help.

Where does Mighty Kids come in?

Many children with ADHD have higher nutritional needs due to stress, poor sleep, or medications that may affect appetite. As research has shown, magnesium deficiency is already common in this group, but can be especially so when diet is limited or processed-food heavy.⁴

Mighty Kids Magnesium contains magnesium bisglycinate: an organic, bioavailable form the body can easily absorb and use. 

If you're interested in finding out more about the different types of magnesium available, take a look at this helpful guide. 

While no single nutrient can “treat” ADHD, providing nutrients in their active, absorbable forms supports healthy brain development and calm, balanced behaviour. Furthermore, Mighty Kids supplements use liposomal encapsulation, an innovative, liquid method of delivery that has superior bioavailability (meaning more of the nutrient can get to where the body needs it) than non-liposomal supplements like powders or pills.

No nutrient works alone in the body. Whilst amazing benefits can be seen just by improving magnesium levels, when working in combination with the Mighty Multivitamin's high dose of vitamin B6 and vitamin D (another important co-factor in magnesium absorption and regulation) the best results can be achieved. 
For the most comprehensive support, we recommend our Gold or Neuro Bundle, containing the multivitamin, magnesium, omega-3, and when going for Gold, vitamin C too. Providing the "everything support" that can be life-changing for the day-to-day challenges of ADHD, it offers full nourishment, supporting:

• Energy

• Attention

• Development 

• Calm

• Immunity

But don't just take our word for it...

If you want to hear real-life reviews from thousands of genuine parents, take a look at our Trustpilot to see the incredible impact that Mighty Kids has had on so many families:

"We have been using this for 6 months now and it's changed our lives we have went from no sleep at all to most nights a minimum of 5 hours and sometimes alot more! ASD adhd and medication wasn't working."

"Before, he was constantly on the go, always jumping, climbing, and unable to sit still. Now, he’s noticeably calmer, more relaxed, and seems much better equipped to handle the day-to-day challenges of life. He’s also sleeping through the night (8+ hours!) when we used to be lucky to get 5, and is becoming more vocal and trying to communicate, which is amazing progress"

 "My son has ADHD and his teacher has even asked me what I have been giving him, for her own relative to try!"

"⭐️ INCREDIBLE ⭐️ 
[...]
Our son really struggles to sit still and concentrate at school due to his ADHD but this school year has been his best one yet, he has come on leaps and bounds and is clearly retaining information better than ever before."

In summary

When children get enough magnesium, especially in a form their bodies can actually use, it may help support: 

• Focus
• Mood stability
• Nervous system regulation

For neurodivergent individuals, small biological supports like these can have a huge impact on daily life. 

In working with the body’s biology rather than against it, supplementing crucial nutrients together can nourish functioning from a cellular level, providing stable foundations of long-term, science-backed support.

For the sciencey people

More on how supplements function within the body to improve symptoms:

Excitatory signals (mainly the glutamate system) make neurons fire, while inhibitory signals (mainly GABA) quiet neuronal activity; sustained focus depends on maintaining balance between excitatory and inhibitory signals. Furthermore, magnesium deficiency may increase neuronal hyperexcitability, which can consequentially influence attention and behaviour.⁹

Research caveats

There is some disagreement between studies as magnesium levels can be measured in different ways: blood, red blood cells, or hair, and across this range, values don’t always match up. For example, some children with ADHD can have normal blood magnesium. This does not mean magnesium levels will also be normal inside their cells, where magnesium is needed to do its work. Different ways of testing magnesium can make results more challenging to compare.

While the findings are encouraging, scientists are careful to point out that the research has some limits:

• Most studies are small and some are open-label (meaning everyone knew who got the supplement). 
• Few gold-standard trials (randomised, double-blind) exist for magnesium alone. This does not invalidate the research that has been carried out, but it is important to note that '[t]here is no well-controlled clinical trial investigating the efficacy and safety of magnesium for treating ADHD.'⁸
• High doses of vitamin B6, when combined with magnesium, should be used cautiously as too much can cause nerve problems. The vitamin B6 in the Mighty multivitamin forms a highly effective and beneficial duo with our magnesium, especially for neurodivergent children. The dose of B6 in these supplements is in the effective range according to study 5 referenced, but is well below any upper limits. Designed for the whole family, Mighty Kids doses are formulated to be incredibly safe, taken in combination with each other, and very well-tolerated.

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References

1.      Effatpanah, M., Rezaei, M., Effatpanah, H., Effatpanah, Z., Varkaneh, H. K., Mousavi, S. M., Fatahi, S., Rinaldi, G., & Hashemi, R. (2019). Magnesium status and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): A meta-analysis. Psychiatry research, 274, 228–234. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2019.02.043

2.      El Baza, F., AlShahawi, H. A., Zahra, S., & AbdelHakim, R. A. (2016). Magnesium supplementation in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Egyptian Journal of Medical Human Genetics, 17(1), 63–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmhg.2015.05.008

3.      Huang, Y. H., Zeng, B. Y., Li, D. J., Cheng, Y. S., Chen, T. Y., Liang, H. Y., Yang, W. C., Lin, P. Y., Chen, Y. W., Tseng, P. T., & Lin, C. H. (2019). Significantly lower serum and hair magnesium levels in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder than controls: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry, 90, 134–141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.11.012

4.      Kozielec, T., & Starobrat-Hermelin, B. (1997). Assessment of magnesium levels in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Magnesium research, 10(2), 143–148.

5.      Mousain-Bosc, M., Roche, M., Polge, A., Pradal-Prat, D., Rapin, J., & Bali, J. P. (2006). Improvement of neurobehavioral disorders in children supplemented with magnesium-vitamin B6. I. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorders. Magnesium research, 19(1), 46–52.

6.      Hemamy, M., Pahlavani, N., Amanollahi, A., Islam, S. M. S., McVicar, J., Askari, G., & Malekahmadi, M. (2021). The effect of vitamin D and magnesium supplementation on the mental health status of attention-deficit hyperactive children: a randomized controlled trial. BMC pediatrics, 21(1), 178. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-021-02631-1

7.      Surman, C., Vaudreuil, C., Boland, H., Rhodewalt, L., DiSalvo, M., & Biederman, J. (2021). L-Threonic Acid Magnesium Salt Supplementation in ADHD: An Open-Label Pilot Study. Journal of dietary supplements, 18(2), 119–131. https://doi.org/10.1080/19390211.2020.1731044

8.      Ghanizadeh A. (2013). A systematic review of magnesium therapy for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Archives of Iranian medicine, 16(7), 412–417.

9.      Vink, R., & Nechifor, M. (Eds.). (2011). Magnesium in the Central Nervous System. University of Adelaide Press.