Epilepsy
Supplements studied for epilepsy.
Overview
Epilepsy has four reviewed supplements, all with low trust. Melatonin (WA 52; low effect size, high evidence, medium trust) shows mixed results: some children and adults had fewer or less severe seizures on nightly melatonin plus usual medication, but evidence is inconsistent and oral melatonin did not help infantile spasms in the summarized research.
GABA with phosphatidylserine may reduce absence seizures in some studies but not photosensitivity in a short trial. Folic acid reduced seizure frequency only in folate-deficient children. Vitamin D has insufficient evidence. See the heatmap and evidence reviews below for all four supplements.
Effect graph
Relevant supplements
Relevant supplements sorted by DEX Score.
| Melatonin | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Vitamin B9 (Folate) | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Vitamin D | ★★★★★ | Very Low / None |
| GABA | ★★★★★ | Very Low / None |
Studies
Find individual evidence reviews for supplements sorted by DEX Score.
4 supplements for and rated at least stars. All purchase bands. No minimum star filter.
MelatoninView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- It’s not clear if melatonin helps reduce seizures in children or adults with epilepsy.
- Some studies show that taking melatonin at night may lower the number or severity of seizures for some children and adults, especially when added to their usual epilepsy medicine.
- However, the evidence is low quality and results are mixed so far.
- Oral melatonin does not seem helpful for very young children with specific epileptic spasms.
Browse 13 studies
RCTSafety and efficacy of melatonin supplementation as an add-on treatment for infantile epileptic spasms syndrome: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial2024n=35
In 35 infants with epileptic spasms on ACTH plus magnesium, add-on melatonin 3 mg for 2 weeks improved sleep and oxidative/inflammatory markers but did not reduce spasm frequency.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 2 weeks
- Dose
- 3 mg
- Population
- Children/adolescents
- Participants
- 35
- Ages
- 3 months–2 years
RCTEffect of add-on melatonin on seizure outcomes and quality of sleep in epilepsy with idiopathic generalized tonic-clonic seizures alone in adult patients: Cross-sectional, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial2023n=60
In 60 adults with generalized tonic-clonic epilepsy on valproate, add-on melatonin improved sleep quality and reduced seizure severity scores but did not significantly lower seizure frequency.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Dose
- 10 mg/kg
- Population
- Adults
- Participants
- 60
- Ages
- 18–60
ObservationalEffect of melatonin on sleep quality and EEG features in childhood epilepsy: a possible non-conventional treatment2023n=20
In 20 children with focal idiopathic epilepsy, 4 mg melatonin for 6 months improved sleep-wake cycles and EEG features without increasing seizure frequency.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 6 months
- Dose
- 4 mg
- Population
- Children/adolescents
- Participants
- 20
RCTEffect of add-on melatonin on seizure outcome, neuronal damage, oxidative stress, and quality of life in generalized epilepsy with generalized onset motor seizures in adults: A randomized controlled trial2021n=52
In 104 adults with generalized motor seizures on valproate, add-on melatonin 3 mg/day reduced oxidative stress and improved quality of life without significant change in seizure frequency.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 8 weeks
- Dose
- 3 mg/day
- Population
- Adults
- Participants
- 52
- Avg age
- ~28
RCTMelatonin improves sleep in children with epilepsy: a randomized, double-blind, crossover study2015n=10
In 11 children aged 6–11 with epilepsy, 9 mg sustained-release melatonin in a crossover trial improved sleep onset and sleep quality without increasing seizures.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Dose
- 9 mg/day
- Population
- Children/adolescents
- Participants
- 10
- Ages
- 6–11
RCTEffect of melatonin on seizure frequency in intractable epilepsy: a pilot study2012n=10
In 10 patients aged 9–32 with intractable epilepsy, 10 mg melatonin nightly for 3 weeks significantly reduced diurnal seizures versus placebo in a small crossover pilot.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 3 weeks
- Dose
- 10 mg/day
- Population
- Epilepsy patients
- Participants
- 10
- Ages
- 9–32
Clinical trialNormalization of the sleep-wake pattern and melatonin and 6-sulphatoxy-melatonin levels after a therapeutic trial with melatonin in children with severe epilepsy2011n=10
In 10 children with severe epilepsy, 3 mg melatonin nightly for 3 months normalized sleep-wake patterns and restored physiological melatonin and 6-sulphatoxymelatonin levels.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 1 week
- Dose
- 3 mg/day
- Population
- Children/adolescents
- Participants
- 10
Clinical trialMelatonin and sleep-related problems in children with intractable epilepsy2010n=23
In 23 children with intractable epilepsy, oral melatonin for 3 months improved sleep latency and sleep quality without worsening seizure control.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 3 months
- Population
- Children/adolescents
- Participants
- 23
RCTAdd-on melatonin improves sleep behavior in children with epilepsy: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial2005n=31
In 31 children aged 3–12 on valproate, add-on melatonin for 4 weeks significantly improved sleep behavior scores (24.4% vs 14.0% reduction in total sleep score) versus placebo.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Children/adolescents
- Participants
- 31
- Ages
- 3–12
RCTMelatonin in wake-sleep disorders in children, adolescents and young adults with mental retardation with or without epilepsy: a double-blind, cross-over, placebo-controlled trial2004n=25
In 25 youths with intellectual disability and sleep-wake disorders, melatonin 3–9 mg improved sleep onset and sleep quality in a double-blind crossover trial.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Dose
- 3 mg/day
- Population
- Young adults
- Participants
- 25
- Ages
- 3.6–26
Clinical trialMelatonin effect on seizures in children with severe neurologic deficit disorders2001
In 6 children with severe intractable seizures, adding 3 mg melatonin nightly for 3 months led to significant clinical seizure improvement in 5 of 6 per parent diaries.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 3 months
- Dose
- 3 mg/day
- Population
- Children/adolescents
- Ages
- 2–15
Clinical trialMelatonin in epilepsy: first results of replacement therapy and first clinical results1999
Early clinical observations in children with sleep disturbances suggested 5–10 mg evening melatonin may reduce seizure frequency and normalize sleep, with a favorable safety profile.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Dose
- 5–10 mg/day
- Population
- Children/adolescents
Case reportUtility of high doses of melatonin as adjunctive anticonvulsant therapy in a child with severe myoclonic epilepsy: two years' experience1997
A long-term case report in a child with severe myoclonic epilepsy refractory to multiple anticonvulsants found high-dose melatonin adjunct therapy reduced seizures and improved sleep over 2 years.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 2 years
- Population
- ALL patients
- Avg age
- ~2.4
Vitamin B9 (Folate)View supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Taking folic acid appears to reduce seizure frequency but only in children with low levels of folate.
Browse 2 studies·1 meta-analysis
Clinical trialEffect of Folic Acid Supplementation on Seizure Control in Epileptic Children Receiving Long Term Antiepileptic Therapy2018n=140
A study of 140 children/adolescents found that on 3 mo follow up, children supplemented with folic acid (Group A) had significant fall in mean seizure frequency while in non-supplemented children (Group B), no significant change was seen (p value <0.05).
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Children/adolescents
- Participants
- 140
- Ages
- 6 months–15 years
MetaVitamins for epilepsy2005n=331
A meta-analysis of 331 studies found that one study (226 participants) found a significantly higher bone mineral content (BMC) among patients with epilepsy taking AEDs with vitamin D supplementation compared to controls who were not given supplementation (OR 3.6; 95% CI 2.48 to 4.72; p < 0.00001).
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Population
- Patients with epilepsy
- Participants
- 331
Vitamin DView supplement →
Do not purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Evidence is insufficient for this condition.
Browse 1 study
RCTRole of vitamin D supplementation and vitamin D receptor in drug-resistant epilepsy: A double-blind placebo-controlled trial conducted in India2025n=200
A 6-month RCT of 200 adults with drug-resistant epilepsy found adjunctive vitamin D (60,000 IU/week then monthly) did not reduce seizure frequency versus placebo, though VDR expression increased.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 3 months
- Dose
- 60000 IU/day
- Population
- Adults
- Participants
- 200
GABAView supplement →
Do not purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- It is not clear whether GABA supplements help with epilepsy.
- Some research shows that taking GABA 2.5-3 grams with phosphatidylserine 500 mg daily for 3-8 months may reduce seizures in people with absence seizures, but not in those with other types.
- Another short study found that GABA 3 grams with phosphatidylserine 600-1200 mg daily for two days did not change seizure sensitivity to flashing lights.
Browse 2 studies
GABA and phosphatidylserine in human photosensitivity: a pilot study1994
In a 3-day study of 9 photosensitive epilepsy patients, a single oral dose of 3,000 mg GABA plus 600 or 1,200 mg phosphatidylserine did not systematically change photosensitivity range.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 3 days
- Dose
- 3000 mg
- Population
- Epilepsy patients
Preliminary evaluation of the effect of GABA and phosphatidylserine in epileptic patients1987n=42
In a pilot study of 42 drug-resistant epilepsy patients, combined GABA and phosphatidylserine showed no benefit for partial seizures but produced a dose-related decrease in absence seizures.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Population
- Epilepsy patients
- Participants
- 42
Evidence visualised
Same ratings as above, aggregated so you can see coverage and imbalance.
| Supplement | DEX | Studies | Meta-analyses | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melatonin | ★★★★★52% | 13 | 0 | 72% |
| GABA | ★★★★★28% | 2 | 0 | 11% |
| Vitamin B9 (Folate) | ★★★★★48% | 2 | 1 | 11% |
| Vitamin D | ★★★★★32% | 1 | 0 | 6% |