Autism Therapy: vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)

definition of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine): Vitamin B6 is a nutrient found in fish, meat and bananas. It is an essential vitamin, which means it can only be obtained through the diet. Vitamin B6 is important for the health of every cell in the body, including the formation of serotonin and dopamine (two crucial neurotransmitters).

No Factsheets to Display

The Role of Vitamins and Minerals in Psychiatry
Integrative Medicine Insights, by Cornish, S., and Mehl_Madrona L., published in 2008, summarized Jun 4, 2009

Vitamin B6 and magnesium therapy may help some children with autism.

In one older study, 42% of children with autism had low levels of vitamin B6. These results prompted doctors to try vitamin B6 therapy for patients with autism. Parents of some children with autism reported improvements in behavior with vitamin B6 treatment alone. Some children also showed improvement after combined treatment with vitamin B6 and magnesium. A recent large study (Rimland and Edelson) of 5,780 autistic children and adults reported clinical improvement in 47% of the patients who received combined vitamin B6 and magnesium therapy.


Treatment Controversies in Autism
Zero to Three, by Schreibman, L., published in 2008, summarized Mar 17, 2009

Research suggests that behavioral autism therapies (discrete trial training and naturalistic strategies) may be most helpful for children with autism.

This review article describes autism therapies and the research behind the therapies. The author calls on parents to avoid sensory integration therapy, diet therapy, and vitamin therapy. She notes that applied behavior analysis (ABA therapy) can improve autism symptoms and some children can make large gains with early ABA intervention. Above all, the therapy should be tailored to the child and the family. She calls for more research and careful thinking in order to find new treatments and test whether or not new treatments work.


Immune-Glutamatergic Dysfunction as a Central Mechanism of the Autism Spectrum Disorders
Current Medicinal Chemistry, by Blaylock, RL, and Strunecka A., published in 2009, summarized Mar 10, 2009

Vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin B12, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids may improve symptoms of autism.

Autism is a spectrum disease and research has shown that it is likely caused by many genes. This paper describes the idea that autism is caused by a problem with the glutamine chemical in the brain. The authors propose that if glutamine does not work well within the brain, then microglia cells in the brain may become active and secrete many factors that can harm the brain. These factors may then cause symptoms of autism in people who are at genetic risk for autism. Treatment approaches would include use of supplements and reduction of processed foods that have additives that contain glutamate and aspartate.

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS AND COMPOUNDS, WHICH ARE KNOWN TO REDUCE EXCITOTOXICITY:
Methylcobalamin (vitamin B12)
Pyridoxal-5 phosphate (vitamin B6)
Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols)
Vitamin C (buffered)
CoQ10
Acetyl-L-carnitine
Alpha-lipoic acid
Magnesium glycinate or lactate
Zinc
Flavonoids

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS AND COMPOUNDS, WHICH ARE KNOWN TO REDUCE MICROGLIAL ACTIVATION:
Ibupropen
Mincycline
Ferulic acid
DHEA
Curcumin
Quercetin
Silymarin
Baicalein
Resveratrol
DHA/EPA


Complimentary and Alternative Medicine Treatments for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Child Adolesc Psychiatric Clin N Am, by Levy, SE, and Hyman SL, published in 2008, summarized Jan 26, 2009

Doctors and patients may benefit if doctors review the science behind complimentary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments for autism.

The best therapies for autism are special education, speech therapy, social skills therapy, and applied behavior analysis (ABA therapy). This review article describes the common use of CAM treatments for autism and grades each one based upon the scientific research that has been done. Secretin has been well studied as a treatment for autism and it has been shown not to help. Music therapy, vitamin B6/magnesium, dimethylglycine, and others have been studied a little bit. There are no studies about whether yoga, folate, or probiotics are able to help with the symptoms of autism.


Showing 1-4 of 21 results

No News to Display


Please comment on this autism topic.

Responding to Vitamin B6 and magnesium

Apr 18, 2012 by Anonymous

I think these factsheets are useful, and I would print them for interested families if there was a PDF source.


Responding to Vitamin B6 and magnesium

Apr 18, 2012 by Anonymous

I think these factsheets are useful, and I would print them for interested families if there was a PDF source.


Responding to neurotransmitters

Dec 28, 2010 by Anonymous

Thanks for the information of your article, especially about <a href="http://neurotransmitters-disorders.blogspot.com/">neurotransmitters</a> and <a href="http://neurotransmitters-disorders.blogspot.com/2010/12/pyridoxine-responsive-and-unresponsive.html">pyridoxine</a>.


Showing 3 results

Please comment on vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) or other autism therapy topics.

  • Factsheet
  • Research
  • News
  • Comments.
    • Synonyms for vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) include: B6, PLP, pyridoxal-5-phosphate, pyridoxal-5-phosphate (PLP), pyridoxine, pyroxidal-5-phosphate, vitamin B6
    Share |