The Science Behind Brainy Bears

Research consistently shows that children with attention and focus challenges tend to have lower magnesium levels than their peers. A 2019 meta-analysis published in Psychiatry Research aggregated data from seven clinical studies and found that children with ADHD had significantly lower serum magnesium levels compared to healthy controls (Effatpanah et al., 2019).

This matters because magnesium plays a role in over 300 enzyme systems in the body, including the production of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin that regulate attention and mood. When magnesium is low, these systems can't function optimally.

The most frequently cited study in this area followed 40 children with ADHD symptoms through an 8-week regimen of magnesium and vitamin B6 supplementation. The results showed significant reductions in hyperactivity and aggressiveness, along with meaningful improvements in school attention. When supplementation was stopped, symptoms returned within weeks, and magnesium levels dropped back down, suggesting the supplement was directly responsible for the improvements (Mousain-Bosc et al., Magnesium Research, 2006).

An earlier study by Kozielec and Starobrat-Hermelin (1997) found that after 6 months of magnesium supplementation, children showed significantly decreased hyperactivity compared to an unsupplemented control group.

Not all forms of magnesium are equally well absorbed. Magnesium citrate is one of the most bioavailable forms, meaning more of it actually reaches the cells that need it. We chose this form specifically for its absorption profile and its well-established safety record in children.

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is a critical cofactor in the synthesis of dopamine, serotonin, and GABA — three neurotransmitters directly involved in attention, mood regulation, and calm behavior. The clinical research on magnesium and ADHD has consistently paired magnesium with B6 because the two nutrients work synergistically: B6 enhances cellular uptake and utilization of magnesium.

Brainy Bears is not a medication. We are a dietary supplement designed to provide two nutrients that published research suggests many children may not be getting enough of. We believe in transparency about what the science shows and what it does not. The studies are promising and directionally consistent, though researchers continue to call for larger-scale trials. We follow this research closely and are committed to formulating based on the best available evidence.