title: Vitamin B6, magnesium, and combined B6-Mg: therapeutic effects in childhood autism.
abstract: This article reports the behavioral, biochemical, and electrophysiological effects of four therapeutic crossed-sequential double-blind trials with 60 autistic children: Trial A--vitamin B6 plus magnesium/magnesium; Trial B--vitamin B6 plus magnesium; Trial C--magnesium; and Trial D--vitamin B6. Therapeutic effects were controlled using behavior rating scales, urinary excretion of homovanillic acid (HVA), and evoked potential (EP) recordings. The behavioral improvement observed with the combination vitamin B6-magnesium was associated with significant modifications of both biochemical and electrophysiological parameters: the urinary HVA excretion decreased, and EP amplitude and morphology seemed to be normalized. These changes were not observed when either vitamin B6 or magnesium was administered alone.
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011736:Pyridoxine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D008274:Magnesium; D011736:Pyridoxine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid