As Linus Pauling said, “You can trace every sickness, every disease, and every ailment to a mineral deficiency.” Minerals are the foundation of cellular health, and without them, your body can’t function properly. Vitamins are equally essential for cellular health, brain function, and immune regulation. They work alongside minerals to support energy production, neurotransmitter balance, and the body’s natural defenses. For children with PANS/PANDAS, specific vitamins like B12, D, and C play a pivotal role in reducing inflammation, improving mood, and strengthening resilience against triggers. Here, we’ll explore why minerals and vitamins matter, how to assess and implement mineral balancing, and how to integrate this into your family’s healing journey.
Why Minerals Are Depleted in PANS/PANDAS
For children with PANS/PANDAS, the body is constantly working harder due to inflammation, chronic stress, and toxin exposure, all of which rapidly deplete essential nutrients. To fully support their healing, it’s critical to understand the key minerals their bodies need—and why these nutrients may already be running low.
Macro & Trace Minerals
Magnesium
Magnesium is involved in over 300 processes in the body, including calming the nervous system, regulating neurotransmitters, and reducing inflammation. It can also help with anxiety, irritability, and sleep issues common in PANS/PANDAS. Different forms of magnesium target specific needs, allowing you to customize your child’s supplementation based on their symptoms
For Neurological Support
- Magnesium Threonate. Magnesium threonate crosses the blood-brain barrier, making it one of the best options for neurological support. It’s especially helpful for improving focus, reducing brain fog, and supporting cognitive function. NeuroMag by Designs for Health is a practitioner-recommended option. It combines magnesium threonate with other co-factors for optimal brain support.
For Calming and Sleep
- Magnesium Glycinate: Easily absorbed and gentle on the stomach. Great for reducing anxiety and supporting restful sleep. (Pure Encapsulations Magnesium Glycinate or Designs for Health Magnesium Buffered Chelate)
- Magnesium Taurate: Ideal for mood regulation, anxiety, and emotional dysregulation. It also supports cardiovascular health.
For Mitochondrial Function
- Magnesium Malate: Magnesium malate is bound to malic acid, a compound naturally found in fruits like apples. Malic acid plays a key role in the Krebs cycle, which is how your body generates energy at the cellular level. It supports mitochondrial function, which is often impaired in children with chronic illnesses or autoimmune conditions like PANS/PANDAS. Magnesium malate has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce neuroinflammation that often contributes to PANS/PANDAS symptoms. Designs for Health Magnesium Malate is a practitioner-grade option that provides high-quality magnesium malate.
Zinc
Zinc plays an essential role in immune function, wound healing, and reducing inflammation. It’s particularly helpful for children with PANS/PANDAS because it can also stimulate appetite, which is often reduced in kids dealing with selective eating or gut dysfunction.
- Include zinc-rich foods like oysters, beef, and sunflower seedsin your child’s diet.
Trace Minerals
Trace minerals like selenium, iodine, and manganese are small but mighty players in your child’s health. These nutrients support detoxification, thyroid health, and reducing oxidative stress—key processes for children dealing with chronic inflammation or autoimmune dysfunction.
- Top Food Sources:Seaweed, organ meats, bone broth.
- Even small deficiencies in trace minerals can impair detox pathways.
- Use supplements like fulvic and humic acid blendsor trace mineral drops to replenish these critical nutrients.
Fulvic & Humic Acids for Improving Nutrient Absorption
These organic compounds are derived from ancient plant matter in the soil and sediment. They naturally contain trace minerals, along with organic acids, antioxidants, and other beneficial compounds. These trace minerals are in their most bioavailable form because fulvic and humic acids act as carriers that transport these minerals directly into cells.
While fulvic and humic acids themselves are not “minerals” in the strictest sense, they are mineral-rich compounds that provide trace minerals and significantly enhance mineral absorption and utilization in the body.
Fulvic and humic acids are powerful tools for restoring trace minerals and improving nutrient absorption. These natural compounds:
- Chelate heavy metals, helping remove toxins from the body.
- Improve gut health, making it easier for your child to absorb vitamins and minerals from both food and supplements.
- Enhance energy productionat 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.
These natural compounds:
- Chelate heavy metals, helping remove toxins from the body.
- Improve gut health, making it easier for your child to absorb vitamins and minerals from both food and supplements.
- 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, but there lot’s of options out there.
Assessing and Balancing Minerals
Balancing minerals isn’t just about fixing deficiencies—it’s about creating optimal ratios between them. Minerals do not act in isolation—they work together in synergistic or antagonistic relationships; imbalances in one can affect how others function. For instance, high calcium levels might suppress magnesium, or an excess of zinc can deplete copper. When the balance is disrupted, it can lead to downstream effects that worsen PANS/PANDAS symptoms.
A Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) is one of the most effective tools to identify these imbalances and address them with precision. HTMAs offer a snapshot of how your child’s body has been storing minerals over time, revealing patterns of deficiencies, imbalances, and even toxic heavy metals that could be interfering with healing. Unlike bloodwork, which shows real-time levels, an HTMA provides a broader picture of mineral stores over time. I recommend HTMA testing through companies like Upgrade Formulas. This test identifies:
- Mineral deficiencies(magnesium or zinc).
- Imbalancesbetween minerals (calcium vs. magnesium).
- Toxic heavy metals, like lead or mercury, which can deplete critical minerals.
Electrolytes
Maintain Cellular Hydration
Electrolytes are responsible for balancing fluids inside and outside of cells. They ensure that water moves where it needs to go in the body, keeping cells hydrated and functioning optimally. Without enough electrolytes, cells can become dehydrated, which leads to fatigue, brain fog, and difficulty focusing—symptoms already common in children with PANS/PANDAS.
Support Nerve and Muscle Function
Electrolytes like sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium are critical for transmitting electrical signals between nerves and muscles. These signals allow the heart to beat, muscles to contract, and the brain to communicate with the rest of the body.
Store Bought Options
- LMNT: An electrolyte drink with sodium, potassium, and magnesium.
- Beam Hydration: Includes electrolytes with added vitamins for immune support.
- Ultima Replenisher: A great option for kids, with multiple flavors and no artificial ingredients.
DIY Homemade Electrolyte Drink
Making your own electrolyte drink at home is simple, affordable, and allows you to control the ingredients to ensure it’s free from added sugars, artificial flavors, or unnecessary fillers. This recipe uses natural ingredients to provide electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and magnesium, as well as a touch of natural sweetness to make it palatable 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 additional 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 twist.
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.
Start with the Basics
Building a strong foundation of essential minerals is the first step in supporting your child’s healing. Starting with a high-quality multi-mineral, magnesium, and electrolytes helps address common deficiencies and ensures the body has the nutrients it needs to reduce inflammation, calm the nervous system, and promote resilience during flares.
Vitamins
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. Pair with vitamin K2 for proper calcium absorption. Test blood levels before 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)
B Vitamins (B-Complex)
B vitamins support energy production, brain health, and methylation. Many PANS/PANDAS kids need methylated forms of B vitamins due to MTHFR mutations.
- B12 (Methylcobalamin):Essential for nervous system health and detoxification.
- B6 (Pyridoxine):Supports neurotransmitter production (serotonin, dopamine) for mood regulation.
- Folate (Methylfolate):Crucial for DNA repair and reducing inflammation.
Use a methylated B-complex, but start low and monitor for signs of overmethylation (anxiety or irritability). If methylated B vitamins are not tolerated well, use folinic acid instead.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A supports immune function and strengthens the gut lining, which can prevent infections that trigger flares. Incorporate food sources (sweet potatoes, liver) or supplement as needed.
Vitamin E
A powerful antioxidant, vitamin E helps reduce oxidative stress and supports immune health. Supplement or include nuts, seeds, and healthy oils in the diet.
Key Takeaways
Creating a personalized plan that includes the right mix of minerals, vitamins, electrolytes, and nutrient-dense foods can significantly improve your child’s resilience and healing journey. Testing, like HTMA and bloodwork, can help pinpoint deficiencies, while thoughtful supplementation and dietary changes can give your child the best possible chance to heal, thrive, and overcome the challenges of PANS/PANDAS.
For a more in-depth discussion on this topic, see the page on Root Causes & Triggers.