Condition
Breath Holding Spells
Breath-holding spells are involuntary episodes in which a young child, usually between 6 months and 6 years old, stops breathing after crying from pain, frustration, or a scare, sometimes turning blue or pale and briefly fainting. They are not voluntary or manipulative. Little research on supplements for them has been reviewed here so far, so there are no trial findings to report yet. Iron is the supplement most often discussed, because low iron is closely linked to these spells.
- Supplements studied
- 1
- Graded outcomes
- 0
- Trials
- 3
- People studied
- 171
Evidence by supplement
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breath Holding Spell Episodes | Improves (the measure goes up) | 3 studies | 171 people | |||
Studies that measured breath holding spell episodes | ||||||
The Breath-Holding Spells in Children protocol
1 primary supplement · 3 supporting supplements
- Iron3–6 mg/kg elemental iron daily (as prescribed by pediatrician)
Studies cited
3 studies from PubMed