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Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or replace medical care. Always consult with your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement, protocol, or treatment.
Before I began seeing a functional practitioner several years ago, I had never given much thought about minerals. But what I’ve found is that our health relies on minerals much more than most people realize. As Linus Pauling (Nobel Prize) once famously stated, “You can trace every sickness, every disease, and every ailment to a mineral deficiency.”
Minerals are the foundation for having healthy cells. Our body needs them to regulate the immune system, supporting our body’s natural detoxification pathways, and generating the energy every cell needs to thrive. Vitamins are equally important; they work alongside minerals to support neurological health, hormone balance, and protect against inflammation.
For children with PANS/PANDAS, the demand for these minerals is even higher. Since their bodies are constantly fighting inflammation, immune dysfunction, chronic stress and environmental toxins, they burn through their vitamin and mineral stores much faster than normal.
Why Minerals Are Depleted in PANS/PANDAS
Children with PANS/PANDAS live in a near-constant state of physiological stress, whether due to infections, neuroinflammation, mold exposure, or immune dysregulation. This constant stress drains the mineral stores faster than they can be replaced.
Macro & Trace Minerals
Magnesium
Magnesium is critical in over 300 enzymatic reactions. Magnesium supports the nervous system, neurotransmitter balance, and inflammation regulation. It’s also important for sleep, mood stability, and reducing sensory overwhelm.
Which form? It depends on your needs and priorities:
Magnesium Threonate: Crosses the blood-brain barrier, known for neurological symptoms, brain fog, and cognitive support (NeuroMag by Designs for Health).
Magnesium Glycinate: Calming, nice for anxiety and bedtime.
Magnesium Taurate: Supports emotional regulation and cardiovascular health.
Magnesium Malate: Provides mitochondrial support, may help with fatigue.
Zinc
Zinc is part of my flare protocol because it’s so important for immune function. It also helps with tissue repair and managing inflammation. It may even stimulate appetite. It increases the appetite of my ARFID kid! However, chronic infections, mold exposure, and long-term gut dysfunction can deplete zinc. Zinc can also help heal the gut lining.
Top food sources: Oysters, beef, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds.
Trace Minerals
Small but mighty, trace minerals like selenium, iodine, and manganese play an important role in detox, thyroid health, and reducing oxidative stress.
Selenium: Brazil nuts are a rich source of selenium, which also supports glutathione production.
Iodine: You can find iodine in seaweed or iodized salt. Iodine supports thyroid and brain development
Manganese: This mineral is essential for mitochondrial antioxidant enzymes.
If you’re interested in the current trace mineral status, consider HTMA testing.
Fulvic & Humic Acids for Improving Nutrient Absorption
While not technically minerals, fulvic and humic acids are rich in minerals and other beneficial compounds. Humic and fulvic acids can significantly enhance mineral absorption and utilization in the body. Which is why you will often see humic and fulvic added to herbals to boost their absorption. They help your body absorb and use minerals by acting as carriers that transport the minerals directly into your cells.
Fulvic and Humic Acids:
- Bind heavy metals, helping remove toxins.
- Improve gut health and improve absorption of vitamins and minerals.
- Enhance energy production at the cellular level.
You can find fulvic and humic acids in liquid supplements or combined with trace minerals. Start slow, as these can initially trigger mild detox symptoms. My favorites are BEAM and Ion.
🎧 Podcast Recommendation: Plant-Based Minerals: What They Are & How They Work
Assessing and Balancing Minerals
Minerals don’t work alone. They have a symbiotic relationship with each other. For example, too much calcium can suppress magnesium levels, while excess zinc can deplete copper.
A Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) is a tool used to identify these imbalances and correct them. HTMAs give a snapshot of how the body has been storing minerals over time, and whether there are deficiencies, imbalances, or elevated heavy metals. Unlike bloodwork, which shows current levels, an HTMA provides a broader picture of mineral stores over time. This test identifies:
- Mineral deficiencies (magnesium or zinc).
- Imbalances between minerals (calcium vs. magnesium).
- Toxic heavy metals, like lead or mercury, which can deplete critical minerals.
It is common in the ASD and PANS/PANDAS community to have elevated levels of aluminum, and low levels of zinc. It was true for us.
Another testing option is a Micronutrient & Vitamin Deficiency Panel. A micronutrient test looks at intracellular levels of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. This can give you a more accurate picture of what’s being properly absorbed and used by the body.
Electrolytes
Maintain Cellular Hydration
Electrolytes are minerals found in fluid form in our bodily fluids (like blood, urine and sweat) that carry an electric charge. They help regulate hydration, nerve and muscle function, pH balance, blood pressure regulation and waste removal. They are responsible for balancing fluids inside and outside of cells, making sure that water reaches where it’s needed. If electrolyte levels are too low, your cells can get dehydrated, which leads to fatigue, brain fog, and issues with focusing. Electrolytes like sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium are responsible for sending electrical signals between nerves and muscles. These signals make it possible for the heart to beat, muscles to contract, and the brain to communicate with the rest of the body.
Favorite Electrolyte Options
- LMNT: An electrolyte drink with sodium, potassium, and magnesium.
- Beam Hydration: Electrolytes derived from fulvic acid, a naturally occurring substance.
- Ultima Replenisher: A great option for kids, with multiple flavors and no artificial ingredients.
DIY Homemade Electrolyte Drink
If you want to make sure you know the ingredients or save some money, you can make your own electrolyte drink at home. This recipe uses natural ingredients you may already have at home to provide electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and magnesium, as well as a touch of natural sweetness to make it more tasty for kids.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups filtered water (or coconut water for extra potassium)
- 1/8–1/4 tsp sea salt or Himalayan pink salt (rich in sodium and trace minerals)
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon or lime juice (provides potassium and vitamin C)
- 1–2 tsp raw honey or maple syrup
- 1/8 tsp cream of tartar or orange juice for potassium boost
- Optional: 1/8 tsp magnesium glycinate powder or a trace mineral liquid for extra magnesium
- Optional: Blend a handful of fresh or frozen berries (like strawberries or blueberries) with water before adding the other ingredients for a kid-friendly fruity drink.
Instructions:
- Mix all the ingredients in a mason jar or water bottle.
- Shake or stir well until the salt and honey are fully dissolved.
- Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Key Vitamins for PANS/PANDAS
Vitamin D
Vitamin D regulates the immune system and reduces inflammation. It’s also critical for mood and brain function, which can help stabilize emotions during flares. Always look for a D3/ K2 combination. Test blood levels before heavy supplementing, as too much vitamin D can cause toxicity. Most people can take 2,000–5,000 IU daily, depending on current levels.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant supporting the immune system, and reducing inflammation. It also has powerful antihistamine properties, making it excellent for children with histamine intolerance or MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome). 500–1,000 mg 2–3 times daily. (For histamine benefits, take with meals)
Vitamin A
Supports mucosal immunity and gut lining repair, especially important during infection or flare.
Top foods: Sweet potatoes, liver, egg yolks
Vitamin E
A fat-soluble antioxidant that supports immune balance and reduces oxidative stress.
Top foods: Sunflower seeds, almonds, spinach
B Vitamins
B vitamins are critical for mitochondrial energy production, neurotransmitter balance, detoxification, and immune regulation. In children with PANS/PANDAS, these processes are often under strain, and that strain is frequently tied to genetic mutations that affect how B vitamins are used in the body.
B vitamins are probably the most critical vitamin to supplement with P/P kids, but they are also the most complicated.
MTHFR & B Vitamins
What form of B Vitamins to Use?
It’s common for children with PANS/PANDAS to have at least one mutation in the MTHFR gene. This enzyme plays a key role in the methylation cycle. Methylation impacts everything from DNA repair to neurotransmitter synthesis to detoxification.
When MTHFR is impaired, the body has a hard time converting folate into its usable, active form: methylfolate. This may lead to a buildup of unmetabolized folic acid (UMFA) and functional folate deficiency, even if blood levels look “normal.” UMFA has been associated with immune suppression, oxidative stress, and may aggravate behavioral issues.
Avoid synthetic folic acid. It’s common in cheap vitamins, cereals, fortified flours, and most standard children’s multivitamins and prenatal vitamins. For kids with MTHFR mutations, folic acid can impair methylation and cause other issues.
Other Vitamin B Options
Methylfolate (5-MTHF) is the bioavailable, active form of folate that bypasses the MTHFR mutation and supports proper methylation. However, in sensitive individuals, or those with mold exposure, high toxin loads, or immune dysregulation, starting too much too fast can trigger overstimulation, anxiety, irritability, aggression, or emotional dysregulation.
Start low, go slow
Some people start with just one dose every 3–5 days.
Monitor for behavior changes, agitation, or increased anxiety. You’ll know if it’s a problem. Mine was deranged after about a week of methylfolate.
Some kids just need methylfolate just 2–3 times a week.
If methylfolate is not tolerated, try folinic acid. Folinic acid is another bioavailable form of folate that does not require the MTHFR enzyme for conversion, but it’s less activating than methylfolate. It’s commonly used by individuals who are too sensitive to methyl donors or who have a hard time detoxing or calming down after methylfolate.
Other Methylation Cofactors
A full methylation-supportive B-complex may include:
Methylcobalamin (B12) – Supports nervous system repair, detox, energy production
P5P (Vitamin B6) – Needed for neurotransmitter synthesis, especially serotonin and GABA. Helpful for anxiety, mood, and sleep
Riboflavin (B2) – Aids mitochondrial function and folate metabolism
Niacin (B3) – Helps “mop up” excess methyl groups if your child gets overstimulation occurs.
Biotin and Pantothenic Acid – Support adrenal function and cellular energy
Some options:
Seeking Health (especially “B-Minus” for those who can’t tolerate methyl groups)
Pure Encapsulations Activated B-Complex
Designs for Health B-Supreme
Thorne Methyl-Guard or Basic B Complex
Where to Start?
Start with the basics: magnesium to calm the nervous system and support the mitochondria, zinc to support appetite and immunity, and electrolytes to maintain cellular hydration. Trace minerals, like selenium, iodine, and manganese, to support detox pathways and immune regulation. I also like fulvic and humic to help improve nutrient absorption.
Testing like HTMA can find hidden deficiencies, imbalances in the ratios between minerals, or high heavy metal levels.
It’s not only about replacing the minerals that are low, it’s about restoring balance.
When it comes to vitamins, Vitamin C and D, help reduce inflammation and regulate immunity. (I add Vitamin A and E, for short periods, during flares.) But Vitamin B may be the most important vitamin for this population because of its role in methylation. Children with MTHFR mutations often need a methylated B vitamin or folinic acid. Avoid synthetic folic acid altogether. (That goes for everyone, especially women that are pregnant, despite the fact that synthetic folic acid is in most drugstore prenatal vitamins.)
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