Improvement of neurobehavioral disorders in children supplemented with magnesium-vitamin B6. II. Pervasive developmental disorder-autism.
Previous studies reported positive results with the use of Mg-vitamin B6 in autism. Despite these reports, this intervention remains controversial. In order to study relationships between changes in clinical symtoms and biological parameters, 33 children (mean age: 4 [1-10] years old) with clinical symptoms of pervasive developmental disorder or autism (PDD, as defined in DSM-IV) were followed for at least 6 months; another group of 36 children (same age) devoided of any known pathology was used as control. All PDD children received a magnesium-vit B6 (Mg-B6) regimen (6 mg/kg/d Mg and 0.6 mg/kg/d vit B6). Intraerythrocyte Mg2+ (Erc-Mg), serum Mg2+ (s-Mg) and blood ionized Ca2+ (i-Ca) were measured before and after treatment. Clinical symptoms of PDD were scored (0 to 4). In contrast to s-Mg or i-Ca, PDD children exhibited significantly lower Erc-Mg values than controls (2.17 +/- 0.4 versus 2.73 +/- 0.23 mmol/L; 16/33). The Mg-B6 regimen led to an increase in Erc-Mg values (2.42 +/- 0.41 (after) versus 2.17 +/- 0.4 mmol/l (before), 11/17) and this supplementation improved PDD symptoms in 23/33 children (p < 0.0001) with no adverse effects: social interactions (23/33), communication (24/33), stereotyped restricted behavior (18/33), and abnormal/delayed functioning (17/33); 15/33 children were improved in the first three groups of symptoms. When the Mg-B6 treatment was stopped, PDD symtoms reappeared in few weeks. A statistically significant relationship was found in Erc-Mg values from children before treatment and their mothers. In conclusion, this study suggests that the behavioral improvement observed with the combination vitamin B6-magnesium in PDD/autism is associated with concomitant modifications of Erc-Mg values.
Mousain-Bosc
M
M
Explorations Fonctionnelles du Système Nerveux, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Carémeau, Nîmes, France.
Roche
M
M
Polge
A
A
Pradal-Prat
D
D
Rapin
J
J
Bali
J P
JP
D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008274:Magnesium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D025101:Vitamin B 6 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
D025101:Vitamin B 6; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium