| Name | Rationale/mechanism | Data type | Significant improvements and clinical indications | Potential adverse effects | SECS | Recommendation* |
| Ingestible | | | | | | | Melatonin | ↑ sleep | 5 DB PBO RCT x-overs | Sleep duration and, overall sleep, sleep onset latency, | Minimal to none | S, E, C, S | R for sleep | B6/Mg | Correct deficiency | 6 DB PBO RCT x-overs | Social interaction, communication, and repetitive behavior (in some but not all RCTs) | >200–300 g neuropathy diarrhea | S for <200 mg, E, C, S | A | B12 | Correct deficiency | 1 DB RCT | Some functioning and behavior | None reported | S, S but not C, E | NR b/c not E and sparse data | Multivitamin/mineral | Nutritional status associated with ASD sxs | 2 DB PBO RCTs, 1 open label | Sleep, gastrointestinal, functioning, hyperactivity, tantrums, and self-injury | None reported | S (if RDA/RDI) E, C, S | R for RDA/RDI if poor diet; | Folic acid | Genetic abnormality | 1 open label | Receptive and expressive language | None reported | S, E, C, S | A | Omega-3 | Correct deficiency | 2 DB RCTs 4 open trials | Stereotypy, hyperactivity, and inappropriate speech | None reported | S, E, C, S | A | Probiotics and GI medication | Remove toxins ↑ immune function | 1 DB PBO RCT | None | None reported | Safe, E | A when GI problems | Iron supp. | Correct deficiency | Open trial | Restless sleep | None reported | S (only if low Fe) E, C, S | A if iron deficiency confirmed | Chelation | ↓ toxic heavy metals | 1 DB PBO RCTs | Language, cognition, and sociability | Renal/hepatic toxicity, fatigue, diarrhea | Sometimes not safe; not cheap | A if heavy metal toxicity confirmed | L-Carnosine | Neuroprotective ↑ frontal lobe functioning | 1 DB PBO RCT x-over | ASD sxs and receptive/expressive language | Hyperactivity and excitability | E, Sensible | Possibly A | Ascorbic acid (vit C) 90 mg/kg | Corrects redox balance | 1 DB PBO RCT x-over | Repetitive behavior | Can interfere with B12 absorption | E, C, S | NR in these doses | Cyproheptadine | High 5-HT levels | 1 DB PBO RCT | ASD sxs | None reported | Some risk | NR b/c some risk and sparse data | Immune therapies | Immune deficiencies | 6 open label | Some ASD sxs | None reported | Some risk | NR b/c some risk |
| Noningestible | | | | | | | Massage | ↑ attachment and ↓ overarousal | 5 RCTs all SB | ASD sxs, sleep, social relatedness, social communication, speech rate, receptive language and ADHD sxs, sensory issues repetitive beh., anxiety, disruptive beh. | Not examined | S, E, C, S | R | Acupuncture | Unblocking flow of energy (“qi”) | 3 RCTs** (1 DB, 2 SB) | Attention, receptive language, overall functioning, self-care, and communication | Few or mild possible infection, bleeding | S, E, S | A | Exercise | ↓ hyperactive and repetitive behavior | 8 within-sub. | Self-stimming and academic scores | Not examined | S, E, C, S | A | Music therapy | ↑ verbal and nonverbal communication and engagement | 2 randomized counterbalan. designs | Imitating signs and words, eye-contact turn-taking, joint attention, and nonverbal communication | Not examined | S, E, S | A | Animal-assisted therapy | ↑ attachment | 1 RCT 3 multiple case studies | Playful mood, focus, language use and social-awareness, interaction and motivation | Not examined; possible bites, scratches, accidents | S, E, S | A b/c may not be C | Neurofeedback | EEG changes | 3 RCTs 1 SB, 1 DB | Attention, set-shifting, speech/language, sociability, health/physical behavior, reciprocal social interaction, communication, sensory cognitive awareness ↑ EEG mu suppression and ↓ EEG theta | Not examined | S, S | NR b/cnot C |
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