My general NON-MEDICAL supplementation suggestions:

1. Always start one at a time, at low dose [like maybe 1/4 of the final desired dose] to see how your child reacts to the supplement. Wait at least a few days, preferably a week, before starting the next one.

2. Start new supplements in the morning. If it causes hyperactivity, vomiting, or other problems, you sure don't want to lose sleep!

3. For ideas on how to mix supplements or otherwise get your child to take them, check out this page
http://www.enzymestuff.com/discussionmixing.htm

For ideas on how to teach your child to swallow capsules
http://www.danasview.net/capsules.htm

Sources of Information

A really good book on this subject is "The Natural Physician's Healing Therapies" by Mark Stengler, ND, available at most larger health food stores.

A really good online source on this subject is the Merck Manual. Go to this page below. Section 3 is about vitamins, section 4 is about minerals.
http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section1/sec1.jsp

Here is the Merck vitamin and mineral table, gives purposes and signs of deficiency and toxicity as a capsule summary
http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/tables/1tb2.jsp

Here is Merck USRDA for vitamins and minerals
http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/tables/1tb3.jsp
http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/tables/1tb4.jsp

Here is the USDA site for USRDA of these items,
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/etext/000105.html

I like this site for vitamin and other supplement info
http://www.anyvitamins.com/vitamin-info.htm

To find online suppliers of supplements,
http://www.danasview.net/parent3.htm#supplements

Vitamins

• Vitamin A [Retinol]
  Helps with vision, immune system, and acne. Deficiency can cause blindness, impaired growth, weight loss, improper tooth and bone formation, and deficient immune function. Stored in the liver, so taking too much can result in toxicity. Carotenes [like beta carotene] are not vitamin A, they must be converted by the body into vitamin A. This conversion process requires zinc, selenium, vitamin C, and thyroid hormone. Most autistic children do not convert carotenes into vitamin A, so non-carotene forms are required until their bodies can convert carotenes, like retinyl acetate, palmitate, or cod liver oil. For information on the high dose vitamin A protocol to eliminate systemic measles virus plus signs of toxicity, see this page
  http://www.danasview.net/vitamina.htm

  Merck info:
  http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section1/chapter3/3b.jsp
  http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section1/chapter3/3c.jsp

• Vitamin B1 [Thiamine]
  Deficiencies cause memory impairment, slurred speech, and problems with eye movement. Alcohol, Dilantin, and antibiotics, and a diet high in white rice can deplete B1. Also can be depleted in people with diabetes. There is a new chelation protocol based on TTFD, which is based on thiamine. This vitamin was one of the essential supplements in order for my son to stop his visual stimming.

  Merck Info:
  http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section1/chapter3/3j.jsp

• Vitamin B2 [Riboflavin]
  Cell energy vitamin. Can help prevent migraine headaches. Imipramine and antibiotics can deplete B2, so can high doses of B12 and other B vitamins. Deficiencies can cause cracks in corners of mouth, visual and language problems, and seborrhea.

  Merck Info:
  http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section1/chapter3/3k.jsp

• Vitamin B3 [Niacin]
  Lowers bad cholesterol. Too much can cause "niacin flush" [red, hot, clammy skin, nausea, hot flashes]. A non-flush form is Inositol.

  Merck Info:
  http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section1/chapter3/3l.jsp

• Vitamin B5 [Pantothenic Acid]
  Required for proper adrenal function. Helps in handling stress, fatigue, allergies. Can help lower cholesterol. Stops teeth grinding for some kids.

  Merck Info:
  http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section1/chapter3/3p.jsp

• Vitamin B6 [Pyridoxine]
  Helps with metabolising amino acids. Helps with PMS, carpal tunnel syndrome, and motion sickness. Deficiencies can cause weakness, confusion, depression, eczema. Birth control pills, antibiotics, and smoking can deplete B6. Can help with epilepsy, asthma, morning sickness, and kidney stones. Too much B6 over a prolonged period of time can lead to peripheral neuropathy [tingling and other sensations], adding magnesium can help. Can help heal "leaky gut". Some kids need very high doses, which can be helpful for focus/attention, body awareness, a "calmness", and elimination of climbing and jumping behaviors. However, for some kids, especially those with phenol intolerance, B6 can cause hyperactivity. Like most B vitamins except biotin, it does tend to increase yeast.
  http://www.autism.org/vitb6.html
  http://www.autism.org/vitaminb6.html
  http://www.danasview.net/phenol.htm

  Merck Info:
  http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section1/chapter3/3m.jsp
  http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section1/chapter3/3n.jsp

• Vitamin B12 [Cobalamin]
  Works with folic acid for cell division and formation of nerve cells. Provides energy, helpful for fatigue. Helps with depression, asthma, MS, and shingles. Birth control pills, antacids, antibiotics, and certain seizure medications can deplete B12. Methyl is the more absorbable form, not cyano. Deficiency can cause anemia and memory loss. Most helpful as injections, also can be helpful as sublingual or oral. Helps many kids acquire language. Can cause scripting [repeating lines from videos verbatim] at higher doses for some kids, including mine, but when I added folic acid and TMG the scripting stopped. Can cause hyper, head banging, or other negative behaviors for some kids especially if not given with folic acid. For my kids, mB12 was required with folic acid and carnitine for proper absorption. Like most B vitamins except biotin, can tend to increase yeast.

  Merck Info:
  http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section11/chapter127/127c.jsp#A011-127-0158

• Biotin
  Manufactured by good bacteria in the gut. Helpful for healthy hair and nails, cradle cap, hair loss, diabetes, and yeast control. Once my kids were fully loaded with biotin, I no longer had to give much yeast control at all. Requires magnesium for proper absorption, so can cause constipation and muscle cramps unless given with magnesium.

  Merck Info:
  http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section1/chapter3/3o.jsp

• Folic Acid
  Helps with depression and memory issues. Prevents neural tube defects in newborns [cleft palate, spina bifida]. Can help with osteoporosis. Deficiencies include anemia, depression, memory issues, tooth decay, dry skin on hands and heels, cracks on the underside of toes, hangnails, and other skin issues. Steroids, birth control pills, and antacids can deplete folic acid. Required for proper absorption of B12 and TMG. For my kids, this eliminated most scripting/echolalia, stopped my son from "writing letters in the air", and caused baby smooth skin for everyone, including me. For kids who don't absorb nutrients well, can be given as folinic acid.

  Merck Info:
  http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section11/chapter127/127c.jsp#A011-127-0185

• Vitamin C
  Deficiency can cause scurvy [bleeding gums, easy bruising, weak bones, poor wound healing, susceptible to infection]. Helpful for colds and other viral issues, allergies, asthma, arthritis, diabetes, osteoporosis, and skin issues. Anti-oxidant, clears metals from the blood. Works with vitamin E and glutathione. Too much can cause diarrhea. Most commercial vitamin C is made from corn, if your child does not tolerate corn, you can consider TwinLabs Allergy C, which is made from sago palm. My son required a LOT of vitamin C to fully eliminate viruses and keep new ones from migrating directly into his brain. Because it acts as an anti-viral, it can cause yeast overgrowth.

  Merck Info:
  http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section1/chapter3/3q.jsp

• Vitamin D
  Converted from sunlight by the skin. Helpful for osteoporosis by promoting calcium absorption. Deficiency causes rickets [bowed legs, knock knees, softening of bones]. Too much can cause damage to tissues and organs, kidney stones, and headaches. Contraindicated with certain medications.

  Merck info:
  http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section1/chapter3/3d.jsp
  http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section1/chapter3/3e.jsp

• Vitamin E
  Helps with fertility. Antioxidant, fat soluble. Helps immune system. Deficiency can cause nerve problems, muscle weakness, anemia, skin issues, and weak immune system. Check with doctor if you are taking blood thinning medications or aspirin. Usually made from soy, if your child does not tolerate soy, you might need to give this with an enzyme that digests soy.

  Merck Info:
  http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section1/chapter3/3f.jsp
  http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section1/chapter3/3g.jsp

• Vitamin K
  On of my kids needed this for proper absorption of calcium. Another child developed nosebleeds when I gave fish oil, but adding vitamin K eliminated this problem.

  Merck Info:
  http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section1/chapter3/3h.jsp
  http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section1/chapter3/3i.jsp

• B50/B100 [see also individual B vitamins above]
  These are "multi-B-vitamins", containing 50 mcg/mg or 100 mcg/mg of each B vitamin [with a few exceptions]. Generally, B vitamins work together, so giving them together like this can be beneficial.

Minerals and Elements

• Calcium
  Used by muscles, nerves, heart, hormones, and bones and teeth. Deficiency can cause osteoporosis, some kids will push on their eyeballs. Caffeine, alcohol, sugar, smoking, and a high protein diet can deplete calcium. Calcium absorption requires vitamin D, vitamin C, vitamin K, lysine, and magnesium. Best absorbed if taken with food. Can interfere with iron and zinc absorption. My son was calcium toxic, I eliminated the toxicity with IP6. I also eliminated my kidney stones with IP6.

  Merck Info:
  http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section2/chapter12/12d.jsp

• Magnesium
  Deficiency can cause muscle cramps, "restless legs", constipation, fatigue, irritability, poor coordination, high blood pressure, kidney stones, insomnia. Steroids, birth control pills, and a few other medications can deplete magnesium. Several supplements appear to use magnesium for proper absorption, so giving those supplements tends to cause constipation unless given with magnesium, see constipation page below. Too much magnesium will usually result in diarrhea.
  http://www.autism.org/vitb6.html
  http://www.danasview.net/constip.htm

  Merck Info:
  http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section2/chapter12/12f.jsp

• Iron
  Required for oxygen transport by red blood cells, enzyme reactions, and energy. Deficiency can cause anemia, fatigue, loss of memory and concentration, pale skin, pica [eating non-edible objects, this can also be caused by zinc deficiency], cracks in corners of mouth, and spoon-shaped nails. Too much iron can cause digestive damage, nausea and vomiting, liver failure, and other issues. Best absorbed with vitamin C, folic acid, and B12. Calcium, magnesium, zinc, and antibiotics can interfere with iron absorption. Some forms [like ferrous sulfate] are not well-absorbed, and can cause constipation. My son was iron toxic, I eliminated that with IP6.

  Merck Info:
  http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section1/chapter4/4b.jsp
  http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section11/chapter127/127c.jsp#A011-127-0069

• Iodine
  Required for proper thyroid function. Deficiency can cause goiter.

  Merck Info:
  http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section1/chapter4/4c.jsp

• Zinc
  Required for numerous enzymatic and hormone activity, immune function, wound healing, proper vitamin A metabolism, bone formation. Can help with adolescent acne. Calcium can hinder absorption of zinc. Can cause nausea if taken on empty stomach. The body needs a proper zinc/copper ratio. Most autistic kids are low zinc and high copper, altho some are the other way around [I gave my #1 zinc, which caused a nosebleed, because low copper causes nosebleeds]. Zinc can help pica [eating inedible objects], chewing on shirts, licking hands, mouthing objects, and other oral behaviors.

  Merck Info:
  http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section1/chapter4/4e.jsp

• Copper
  See zinc. Copper toxicity can be a sign of Wilson's Disease. One of my kids was low copper, and when I tried to give him zinc [which helps deplete copper when the child is high copper], it caused him to have a nosebleed.

  Merck Info:
  http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section1/chapter4/4j.jsp

• Manganese
  Important for bone structure and proper utilization of B vitamins. Too much manganese causes a dry cough.

  Merck Info:
  http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section1/chapter4/4h.jsp

• Chromium
  Can reduce craving for sweets by helping to regulate blood sugar levels, enhances the body's use of insulin, helps with diabetes. Works together with vanadium.

  Merck Info:
  http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section1/chapter4/4f.jsp

• Molybdenum
  Required for proper sulfur metabolism. Can help with phenol intolerance.

  Merck Info:
  http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section1/chapter4/4i.jsp

• Selenium
  Important antioxidant, removes toxic waste from the body, including mercury. Works with vitamin E. Helps with production of thyroid hormone. Deficiency can affect immune system. Toxicity can affect sulfur metabolism, cause depression, nausea, and vomiting. Garlic odor of breath even without eating garlic, excessive perspiration, hair loss, and changes in fingernails are signs of toxicity. My son needed selenium for proper absorption of vitamin A and the B vitamins, plus carotene conversion. For me, if I don't take daily selenium, I will wake up multiple times during the night to use the bathroom. It did need magnesium for proper absorption, so caused constipation until I added magnesium.

  Merck Info:
  http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section1/chapter4/4g.jsp

• Sodium
  See potassium.

  Merck Info:
  http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section2/chapter12/12b.jsp

• Potassium
  Required for proper cell functioning. Can prevent high blood pressure and muscle cramps. Magnesium deficiency can cause potassium loss. Requires balance with sodium. Can be problematic with certain medications. Too high doses can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and ulcers. Sometimes I get muscle cramps which require both magnesium and potassium to eliminate.

  Merck Info:
  http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section2/chapter12/12c.jsp

• Phosphorus
  

  Merck Info:
  

  http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section2/chapter12/12e.jsp

• Vanadium
  See chromium.

Enzymes

• Digestive enzymes digest foods. For many children, enzymes can replace food removals. But for some children, certain foods must still be removed.

• Specific enzymes to digest specific foods:
  http://www.enzymestuff.com/basicswhichenzyme.htm

• There are plant-based enzymes, which can be purchased over the counter, and also animal-based enzymes, which generally require a prescription.

• The enzyme bromelain can be used to help bruises heal faster. The enzymes Candidase [by Enzymedica] and No-Fenol [available from HNI http://www.houstonni.com/ help break down the yeast cell wall, allowing your yeast killer to kill the yeast much more quickly.

• Certain enzymes can help eliminate virus issues. Here is more information on that:
  http://www.enzymestuff.com/conditionviruses.htm

• Certain children have problems with bromelain and/or papain, so if your enzyme product contains those items, and your child appears to have difficulty tolerating the enzyme, find an enzyme product that will still address the foods you want it to address, that does not contain those items.

• Here is my Enzyme section, which gives more information on this topic:
  http://www.danasview.net/parent3.htm#supplements

Probiotics

• Probiotics are essentially "good bacteria" that the human gut requires to digest food, plus many of these bacteria will manufacture essential elements and amino acids that the body requires for healthy functioning. When healthy, the gut contains good bacteria and a certain amount of yeast, in balance with each other. Many times, however, there will be an imbalance, like too much yeast or bad bacteria, and not enough good bacteria. Probiotics can help get the body back in balance. My son did not really tolerate probiotics, so I gave him biotin. The good bacteria produce biotin which is what the body uses to control the yeast, so adding straight biotin can be very helpful for that.

• Probiotics "Short Course" [Intro to Probiotics]:
  http://www.enzymestuff.com/probiotics.htm

• The basics of probiotics:
  http://www.upwardquest.com/probiotics-benefits.html

• You can purchase probiotics at most local health food stores. Here is my site section which includes probiotics, scroll down:
  http://www.danasview.net/parent3.htm#supplements

Essential Fatty Acids

• Merck EFA table:
  http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section1/chapter2/2e.jsp

• A discussion of Omega 3 and 6:
  http://www.asthmaworld.org/Essential_Fatty_acid.htm
  http://www.asthmaworld.org/EFA3.htm
  http://www.jacn.org/cgi/reprint/21/6/495.pdf
  

• My son required the "mito cocktail" and certain other supplements to properly digest and absorb fatty acids. And proper absorption of fats did tend to pull magnesium, which caused constipation until I added magnesium. Without mito cocktail, fatty acids caused stimming and aggression. Mito cocktail is CoQ10, B50, Vitamin E, Carnitine, Vitamin C, Zinc Picolinate, Selenium. My son also required taurine. I wrote about it here
  http://www.danasview.net/mar05.htm

Amino Acids

• Merck Amino Acid Table:
  http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/tables/1tb1.jsp

• A discussion of amino acids:
  http://www.puttingitright.com.au/aminoacids.htm

• Glutathione
  Critical for detoxification.

  Good info:
  http://www.nutritionadvisor.com/glutathione.html

• Carnosine
  Helpful for language and behaviors for certain children. This tended to deplete zinc for my kids.

• Carnitine
  Transports nutrients into fat, and fatty acids into cells, creating energy. Can help with low muscle tone issues. The body makes carnitine from lysine, methionine, SAMe, magnesium, vitamin C, vitamin B6, niacin, and iron. I had to give my kids carnitine for proper absorption of B12, folic acid, vitamin C, and TMG. Carnitine helped one of my children who had growth problems. He was at the bottom of the growth chart, but after carnitine, he is just over the 50% mark.

  Merck Info:
  http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section1/chapter2/2d.jsp

• Lysine
  Helps eliminate cold sores, warts, chicken pox, shingles, and other viral issues. Required for growth, especially bone growth. Helps fight lead toxicity. B vitamins and vitamin C are helpful for proper absorption. Don't take this with antibiotics. Take at least two hours apart from olive leaf extract.

• Taurine
  Can help with seizure activity, and fatty acid metabolism. My son needed taurine as part of mito cocktail. Helpful to support the liver. Can help for kids who have difficulty with chlorine in swimming pools.
  http://www.danasview.net/chlorine.htm

Anti-fungals, anti-bacterials, anti-virals

• Virastop Enzyme
  Anti-viral. Worked VERY WELL for my son.

• Olive Leaf Extract
  Anti-viral and anti-bacterial. This worked VERY WELL for my son. Also eliminated my seasonal and environmental allergies [trees, pollen, cats, etc].

• Grapefruit Seed Extract [GSE]
  Anti-fungal. Can cause bad bacteria if given when there is no yeast present. Worked VERY WELL for my son for the yeast issues he had before and during chelation, anti-virals, and several other protocols.

• Grapeseed Extract
  Anti-oxidant. [Do not confuse with grapefruit seed extract above.]

• Oil of Oregano
  Anti-bacterial and anti-fungal.

• Uva Ursi
  Anti-fungal. Should not be used long-term.

• Caprylic Acid
  Anti-fungal.

• Garlic
  Aids in preventing heart disease and cancer, improves cholesterol levels, lowers blood pressure. Antibacterial and antifungal. Can help with parasites. Raw is most effective.

• Colloidal Silver
  Anti-bacterial. Should not be used long-term, especially for children who might already be metal-toxic. Can cause argyria, a silver coloring to skin that can be permanent.

• Lauricidin
  Anti-viral. Supposed to have anti-fungal properties but I found with my kids that it actually *caused* yeast [viral die off causes yeast, but with Lauricidin I was unable to keep the yeast under control, even with GSE].
  http://www.lauricidin.com/

Others

• MSM
  Short for methylsulfonylmethane. A source of sulfur. Can reduce pain and inflammation. Can help eliminate parasites. Can help with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Best taken with food, and not near bedtime.

• Coenzyme Q10 [CoQ10[
  Helps with heart functioning and energy production. Made by the body with tyrosine, B vitamins, and vitamin C. Essential part of the "mito cocktail" for kids with mitochondrial issues. This supplement was essential to allow my son to properly absorb and utilize fatty acids.

• DMG
  Short for Dimethylglycine. Can help certain children acquire language. Can cause hyper for some children, adding B12 and folic acid can help.

• TMG
  Short for Trimethylglycine. Can help certain children acquire language. Can cause hyper for some children, even tho it is generally sold with B12 and folic acid added. My son did really well with this, but it did require folic acid and carnitine for proper absorption, and did tend to cause yeast overgrowth for a few weeks.

• Milk Thistle Seed [silymarin]
  Helps support the liver, and the liver is the organ which removes toxins from the body. Can increase glutathione content of liver. Also helps support the kidneys. High doses can cause diarrhea.

• Vinpocetin Helps with language acquisition for certain children.

• Melatonin Helps with sleep issues for certain children. For some children, it can cause sleep but the child wakes in the night and then cannot return to sleep.

  Merck Insomnia Info:
  http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section14/chapter173/173b.jsp

• Valerian Can help with sleep issues for certain children.

Chelation

• Alpha Lipoic Acid [ALA]
  Very effective anti-oxidant and chelator. Supports the liver. Can pull mercury from the brain. I chelated all my kids with ALA, and now I am using ALA to chelate myself. Chelation caused my kids to lose ALL of their food intolerances and allergies, no more gut yeast issues, as well as eliminated many stims and other issues.