Supplements

Disruptive mealtime behaviors, parent health-related quality of life and family functioning, ABC subscales, and dietary supplements are significantly associated with insomnia symptoms in young children with autism spectrum disorder.

In a sample of 103 children with autism (mean age 5.8 years, 77.7% male), 33% scored ≥22 on the Pediatric Autism Insomnia Rating Scale (PAIRS). After adjusting for confounders, disruptive mealtime behaviors, parent health-related quality of life and family functioning, ABC subscales (especially hyperactivity/noncompliance), and dietary supplements were significantly associated with elevated insomnia symptoms.

Last updated: Aug 26, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score34/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Clinical Correlates of Insomnia Symptoms in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

observational

Wenzell ML, Pulver SL, Scahill L, Davidson T, Rajagopal S, Gillespie S, Huang T, Griggs S, Roark C, Patil M, Patel M, Sharp WG · The Journal of pediatrics (2025)

Participants: N/A
Duration: N/A (cross-sectional)
Intervention: Observational assessment of clinical correlates; no intervention tested.
Outcome: Insomnia symptoms measured by PAIRS score ≥22.
Effect Size: N/A (odds ratios not reported in abstract; best subset model AUC = 0.842)
Population: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ages 2-10, mean 5.8 years) from a general outpatient autism clinic.

Result:

PubMed: 40962108DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2025.114812

Mechanism Graph

Disruptive mealtime behaviors may disrupt sleep routines
↓
Parental stress and family dysfunction may exacerbate child insomnia
↓
Hyperactivity/noncompliance may interfere with sleep onset
↓
Dietary supplements may affect sleep regulation or reflect underlying health issues

Limitations

  • ⚠Cross-sectional design precludes causal inference
  • ⚠Sample size of 103 is relatively small for multivariable modeling
  • ⚠Reliance on parent-report measures may introduce bias

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the PAIRS threshold used in this study?▼

A PAIRS score of ≥22 was used to define clinically significant insomnia symptoms.

What were the strongest predictors of insomnia?▼

ABC hyperactivity/noncompliance, dietary supplements, and mealtime behaviors were the most significant predictors in the best subset model.

Were demographic factors like age or sex associated with insomnia?▼

No, there were no group differences in demographics, height, weight, or constipation.

Is this study interventional or observational?▼

It is an observational study examining correlates, not testing any intervention.

Products

Affiliate links coming soon. We only recommend products that match the doses and forms used in the cited research.

References

  1. 1.Wenzell ML, Pulver SL, Scahill L, Davidson T, Rajagopal S, Gillespie S, Huang T, Griggs S, Roark C, Patil M, Patel M, Sharp WG. "Clinical Correlates of Insomnia Symptoms in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.." The Journal of pediatrics, 2025. PMID: 40962108 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2025.114812
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.