| Recently, there has been a movement among some | | | | considering choosing a vitamin B6 and magnesium |
| parents of autistic children toward a therapy that | | | | therapy for your own child, please consult your child's |
| involves the use of Vitamin B6 and Magnesium. | | | | doctor or pediatrician to find out if it is a therapy that |
| However, before jumping on the bandwagon, it is a | | | | may work well with your child's unique needs, and to |
| good idea to know what is involved in the treatment | | | | find the appropriate dose for your child's age, weight, |
| and understand the pros and cons of treating a child | | | | and requirements. |
| with substantial doses of vitamins and minerals. | | | | It should be noted that this therapy is considered to be |
| Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) is considered to be an | | | | somewhat controversial. There have been two very |
| essential vitamin. The term essential means that it is | | | | small yet well controlled studies - one by L. Tolbert (et |
| one required by the human body in order to properly | | | | al.) published in the Journal of Autism Dev. Disorders in |
| function, but that cannot be produced on its own by | | | | 1993, "Brief Report: Lack of response in an autistic |
| the body. Therefore, Vitamin B6 must be obtained | | | | population to a low dose clinical trial of pyridoxine plus |
| through food, supplements, or other means. This | | | | magnesium", and the study by R. L. Findling (et al.) from |
| specific vitamin is required in order for the body to | | | | the same journal but in 1997, "High-dose pyridoxine and |
| perform over sixty different biological processes. | | | | magnesium administration in children with autistic |
| When the body receives Vitamin B6, it converts it into | | | | disorder: an absence of salutary effects in a double |
| pyroxidal-5-phosphate (PLP), which is an enzyme that | | | | blind, placebo-controlled study" - which showed |
| is used in order to obtain the energy from within | | | | absolutely no impact on autism with low and high |
| starches, and to break proteins down into more | | | | doses of vitamin B6 and magnesium. |
| useable forms. PLP is also necessary for brain | | | | However, there was one more substantial, yet less |
| chemical production. | | | | effectively controlled study - J. Martineau (et al.) in |
| Magnesium (Mg) is an essential mineral. Again it is vital | | | | 1985's Biological Psychiatry journal, "Vitamin B6, |
| for the health of the body but is not something the | | | | magnesium, and combined B6-Mg: therapeutic effects |
| body can produce on its own. It is crucial for the health | | | | in childhood autism" - which showed that when used in |
| of every one of the body's cells, as well as for brain | | | | combination, vitamin B6 and magnesium have a |
| and muscle cell function. Though it is rare for a | | | | significant behavioral impact, though neither of those |
| magnesium deficiency to occur, a 2006 study | | | | substances alone appears to make a difference. |
| published in the Biol Trace Elem Res Journal, called | | | | Before beginning this kind of therapy, you should know |
| "Magnesium Profile in Autism", by M. Strambi (et al.) | | | | that high doses of vitamin B6 pose the risk of nerve |
| suggested that children with autism may actually suffer | | | | problems. However, there have been no reported |
| from too little magnesium in their bodies. | | | | significant side effects regarding autistic children taking |
| Because of the essential element of these two | | | | vitamin B6 and magnesium supplements. At over 600 |
| vitamins/minerals, some parents feel that | | | | mg per day, magnesium can be toxic, but when taken |
| supplementing a child's magnesium and vitamin B6 | | | | in moderate amounts (200 mg per day) no significant |
| intake is a viable alternative autism therapy. If you are | | | | side effects have been reported. |