Autism is a developmental spectrum disorder that affects social interaction, communication and behavior. The variation in symptoms guides doctors and parents in designing effective individualized treatment programs.While there is no cure for autism, ongoing research seeks to identify specific causes for the disorder. Parents of children with autism explore alternative treatment options such as vitamin B-6 and magnesium to diminish the symptoms. Approximately 50 to 75 percent of children with autism receive a form of alternative treatment.
Role of Vitamin B-6
Vitamin B-6 aids in the growth and function of the brain, nerves, skin and other parts of the body. Vitamin B-6 ensures the appropriate utilization of sugars, fats and proteins and is often combined with other B vitamins. Food sources of vitamin B-6 include beans, vegetables, liver, meat, eggs and cereals. High, sustained doses of the vitamin may cause problems with the brain and nervous system. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that researchers assessing the effects of vitamin B-6 on autism used high doses of the vitamin, which can produce toxic effects.
Role of Magnesium
Magnesium is a mineral required in more than 300 chemical reactions in the body. Women, African Americans and the elderly experience a higher risk for magnesium deficiency than other individuals in the population. Supplements and high-fiber foods such as legumes, whole grains, leafy green vegetables, seeds and almonds are sources of magnesium. Other food sources include dairy products, meats, chocolate and coffee. The bones contain approximately one half of the body's 25 grams of magnesium. Some researchers indicate that combining magnesium with vitamin B-6 produces more results than using vitamin B-6 alone. However, two scientific studies did not confirm the benefit of combining magnesium with vitamin B-6 for the treatment of autism.
Evidence
The history of using vitamin B-6 and magnesium to treat autism spans 20 years. A study published in the October 2008 edition of "Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America" reported that an examination of research studies did not validate the use of vitamin B-6 and magnesium for autism. Although researchers suggested that the combination of magnesium with vitamin B-6 produced more positive effects than B-6 alone, design flaws and small sample sizes prevented conclusive results. Well-designed, larger studies can assess the effectiveness of vitamin B-6 and magnesium for the treatment of autism.
Implications
Many parents use an alternative form of medicine to treat their autistic child's symptoms. If you are considering an alternative option such as vitamin B-6 and magnesium, discuss your questions and concerns with your child's doctor. High doses of vitamin B-6 are potentially toxic to a child's nervous system and should be given under a doctor's supervision. Your doctor can initiate the treatment for at least three months to evaluate its effectiveness and monitor side effects.
References
- "Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America"; Complementary and Alternative Medicine Treatments for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder; Susan E. Levy, M.D., and Susan L. Hyman, M.D.; October 2008
- Helpguide.org; Autism Spectrum Disorders; Melinda Smith, M.A., Jeanne Segal, Ph.D. and Ted Hutman, Ph.D.; December 2010
- University of Michigan Health System; Autism; December 2009
- MedlinePlus; Pyridoxine; December 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Autism; December 2009
- MedlinePlus; Magnesium; March 2011
