For most of us, a busy environment like a café or a train station would feel fairly ordinary.

But for children with sensory processing difficulties, the combination of noise, lights, smells, and people rushing around can be overwhelming. Just a few minutes in such a place can leave them feeling anxious, overstimulated, and unable to focus or stay calm.^[1]

A sensory processing disorder occurs when information received from the five senses – sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell – is increased or distorted. Internal senses, such as balance and body awareness, can also be heightened. As a result, everyday experiences such as playing, dressing, mealtimes, and social interactions can feel irritating, confusing, or even unbearable.^[2]

Around 95% of children with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) struggle with multisensory processing difficulties; and it is regarded as one of the core symptoms.^[3],[4]

As research on neurodevelopmental disorders advances, so too has the market for “sensory supplements”: nutraceuticals targeted at children with sensory processing issues. These supplements typically include amino acids, essential fatty acids, and various vitamins and minerals, individually or in combination.

For a parent struggling with their child’s behaviour, these supplements may seem like the solution they’re looking for.

But do sensory supplements work? And if so, which ones?

Here’s what the science says.

 

What sensory supplements work?

Clinical research into non-pharmaceutical supplements for children with behavioural disorders has had mixed results. However, large meta-analyses have suggested that some of the most effective nutrients for improving behaviour related to sensory processing difficulties may include L-carnitine, Coenzyme Q10, digestive enzymes, B vitamins, melatonin, multivitamin formulas, NAC, omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin C, and vitamin D3.^[5]

 

Multivitamins/micronutrients

Children with ASD often lack key nutrients due to feeding challenges such as refusing food, selective eating, and mealtime struggles.^[6] Almost half (49%) of physicians recommend vitamin/mineral supplements for ASD children to improve nutrition status and metabolism, as well as reducing symptoms.^[7] Combinations of vitamins and minerals specifically targeted at children with behavioural disorders have generally shown benefits in improving symptoms, both in short- and long-term supplementation.^[8]

 

Amino acids

L-carnitine is essential for central nervous system health and fatty acid metabolism; processes often disrupted in people with ASD. Emerging research has shown L-carnitine supplementation can help manage symptoms like impulsivity and hyperactivity in children with sensory disorders, potentially improving overall behaviour.^[9]

Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a component of the cell membrane that supports membrane fluidity and receptor function and regulates stress responses.^[10] PS levels are often decreased in ASD children with impaired sensory processing.^[11] However, while many children’s supplements contain PS, evidence for its benefits in sensory processing deficits is lacking.

 

Vitamin D

Activated vitamin D (calcitriol) helps to lower neuroinflammation and inflammatory cytokines, which are both elevated in those with autism.^[12] It also supports neurite growth, dopamine production, and nerve growth factors while boosting serotonin levels, the brain’s “feel-good” neurotransmitter.^[13]

A 2020 meta-analysis found that vitamin D supplementation was beneficial for hyperactivity but not for core ASD symptoms or irritability.^[14] However, combinations of vitamin D with Omega 3 have been shown to improve social and behavioural outcomes in children with ASD.^[15]

 

Omega 3

Omega 3 is one of the most popular supplements for children with behavioural disorders, likely due to evidence that children with ADHD have lower blood levels of DHA.^[16] Omega 3 fatty acids – especially DHA – are necessary for normal development and functioning of the brain and auditory and visual processing system.^[17]

A 2023 meta-analysis found that Omega-3 supplementation improved attention, psychosocial functioning, emotional health, and behaviour in 8 out of 14 studies.^[18]  Brain imaging further revealed that children who received Omega-3 showed enhanced activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, a region linked to emotional regulation and decision-making, where dysfunction is associated with antisocial behaviour.^[19]

Probiotics

Imbalanced gut bacteria can disrupt brain signalling and affect emotional and sensory functions.^[20] The microbiota-gut-brain axis has an important influence on brain health, with ASD symptoms closely linked to gut dysbiosis. Probiotic supplementation in children with ASD has not only been shown to improve gastrointestinal symptoms but also adaptive functioning, development, and sensory processing. By restoring a balanced gut microbiome, probiotics may help reduce GI-related distress and improve multisensory integration.^[21]

When considering a supplement for your child, be sure to check the research behind the formula. If in doubt, talk to your healthcare practitioner about whether the dosage and ingredients are suitable for their needs.

This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for health professional advice.

 

 

^[1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9180069/

^[2] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17436846/

^[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK573614/

^[4] https://mecp.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s43045-024-00441-6

^[5] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8470413/

^[6] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30761818/

^[7] https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/6/1202

^[8] https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/cap.2019.0036

^[9] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21336630/

^[10] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23495677/

^[11] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5100977/

^[12] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ana.25610

^[13] https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.5455/bcp.20141024012912

^[14] https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1028415X.2020.1815332

^[15] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10466790/

^[16] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29207548/

^[17] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16949263/

^[18] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7352506/

^[19] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19833485/

^[20] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21876150/

^[21] https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.550593/full