Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
For the health condition: Seizures

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) has a scientifically validated, though relatively narrow, use in the management of certain types of seizures—specifically, pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy (PDE). PDE is a rare, autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations that impair the enzyme antiquitin (ALDH7A1), leading to a deficiency in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) synthesis. GABA is the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, and its deficiency can result in intractable seizures, often commencing in the neonatal period or early infancy.

Standard anticonvulsant medications are generally ineffective for PDE. However, intravenous or oral administration of vitamin B6 has been shown to rapidly control seizures in affected individuals. The dramatic and reproducible response to pyridoxine supplementation forms the scientific basis for its use in this context. Numerous case reports and case series document this effect, and testing for pyridoxine responsiveness is now a standard part of the diagnostic workup for neonatal seizures of unknown origin.

It is important to note that, outside of this specific, rare context, there is no robust evidence supporting the use of vitamin B6 to treat or prevent seizures in the general population. Its use is not a broad-spectrum anticonvulsant, and supplementation in individuals without a deficiency or PDE does not appear to reduce seizure frequency or severity. Thus, while the evidence for pyridoxine’s use in PDE is strong, its application is limited to this rare, genetically determined condition.

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