It was somewhat surprising 15+ years ago when Bonnie first began to be challenged (by psychiatrists in particular, who are always being asked about adverse side effects) to answer this question: what are the side effects of taking a broad-spectrum formula? In all these ensuing years, the answer has not changed from her first observations: people repeatedly tell us that in addition to improved mental health and cognitive clarity, they sleep better and they experience relief of constipation. Now, finally, we have evidence for the first of those two ‘side effects’ in the form of an excellent study
The study’s
lead author Associate
Professor Laurie McLay says the association between
sleep and behavioural challenges in children is
well-established but very few studies have examined whether
enhancing children’s sleep quantity and quality has
general benefits across key areas of development and
functioning.
“Sleep problems affect
between 40-80% of children on the autism spectrum; children
with autism also experience high rates of challenging
behaviour associated with sleep problems,” says Dr
McLay.
“This makes sleep one of a few
pivotal behaviours which, when enhanced may have huge
collateral benefit for children s daytime behaviour,
functioning and wellbeing, as well as parental mental health