16 autistic children receiving vitamin B6 for autism were either continued on
vitamin B6 or given placebo, on a double-blind basis. The placebo group
significantly deteriorated after withdrawal of the vitamin B6. Rimland B et al:
The effect of high doses of vitamin B6 on autistic children: a double-blind
crossover study. Am J Psychiatry 135(4):1978.
In a 30-week double-blind trial, 8g/70kg/day supplements of vitamin C were
given to autistic schoolchildren, resulting in a reduction in severity of
symptoms. Dolske MC et al: A preliminary trial of ascorbic acid as supplemental
therapy for autism. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry
17(5):765-74, 1993.
In a trial administering vitamin B6 with magnesium to 44 autistic children,
15 showed a moderate clinical improvement and worsened when the supplements were
discontinued. Lelord G et al: Clinical and biological effects of high doses of
vitamin B6 and magnesium on autistic children. Acta Vitaminol Enzymol
4(1-2):27-44, 1982.
In a double-blind clinical trial on 60 autistic children given supplements of
vitamin B6 and magnesium, there was a behaviour improvement and significant
improvements in biological parameters. Martineau J et al: Vitamin B6, magnesium
and combined B6-Mg therapeutic effects in childhood autism. Biol Psychiatry
20(5):467-78, 1985.
A group of 44 autistic children were treated with large doses of vitamin B6
and magnesium. There was a clinical improvement in 15 children. Lelord G et al:
Effects of pyridoxine and magnesium on autistic symptoms - initial observations.
J Autism Dev Disord 11(2):219-30, 1981.
Questionnaires on the treatment of 4,000 autistic children revealed that
among the biomedcal treatments, the use of high-dosage vitamin B6 with magnesium
was found to be 6 times more effective than the two commonly used pharmaceutical
agents fenfluramine and thioridazine hydrochloride. Rimland H: Controversies in
the treatment of autistic children: vitamin and drug therapy. J Child Neurol 3
Suppl:S68-72, 1988.