Relationship: Tics and vitamin B6

Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin B6
For the health condition: Tics

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis
Other ingredients for this health condition
Other health conditions supported by this ingredient
Products containing this ingredient

Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) has been explored as a treatment for tics, particularly in children with Tourette syndrome, but the scientific evidence supporting its use is limited and mixed. A small number of clinical trials and case studies have investigated whether B6 supplementation might reduce tic severity, based on the vitamin’s role in neurotransmitter synthesis (notably GABA and dopamine, both implicated in tic disorders). The most commonly cited study, a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial from 1991 (Lui et al.), involved 12 children and reported some reduction in tic severity with high-dose B6, but the study’s small sample size and methodological limitations prevent strong conclusions. More recent research and systematic reviews generally find insufficient evidence to recommend vitamin B6 for tics, noting the lack of large, well-controlled studies.

Despite the weak evidence base, vitamin B6 is sometimes used off-label by clinicians and families seeking low-risk interventions, and it appears in some integrative treatment protocols for tic disorders. However, leading guidelines (such as those from the American Academy of Neurology) do not endorse B6 as a standard therapy for tics. In summary, while there is a plausible biological rationale and some limited early evidence, the scientific support for using vitamin B6 to treat tics is weak (evidence rating: 2/5), and it should not be considered a first-line therapy.

More about vitamin B6
More about Tics

Other ingredients used for Tics

magnesium
vitamin B6

Other health conditions supported by vitamin B6

Alcoholism
Amenorrhea
Anemia
Anxiety
Anxiety Disorders
Anger (excessive)
Arthritis
Attention Deficit Disorder
Autism
Bell's Palsy
Burning Feet or Hands
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Chemotherapy (reducing side effects)
Depression
Diabetes
Dysmenorrhea
Emotional Sensitivity
Energy (lack of)
Epilepsy
Fatigue
Hair (loss or thinning)
Hair Care (general)
Hangover
Hashimoto's Disease
Hiccups
Hot Flashes
Infertility
Inflammation
Insomnia
Irritability
Kidney Stones
Liver Detoxification
Memory and Brain Function
Menopause
Menorrhagia
Menstrual Irregularity
Menstruation (scant)
Mental Illness
Migraine
Mood Swings
Morning Sickness
Nausea and Vomiting
Nerve Damage
Nervous Exhaustion
Nervousness
Neuralgia and Neuritis
Nightmares
Numbness
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
PMS (general)
PMS Type A
PMS Type C
PMS Type D
PMS Type H
PMS Type P
PMS Type S
Post Partum Weakness
Pregnancy (herbs and supplements for)
Progesterone (low)
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Schizophrenia
Seborrhea
Seizures
Sleep (restless and disturbed)
Sore or Geographic Tongue
Stress
Thinking (cloudy)
Tics
TMJ
Tuberculosis
Twitching
Worry

Products containing vitamin B6

Other health conditions supported by vitamin B6

Products containing vitamin B6

Health Concerns

Brands

Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin B6
For the health condition: Tics

Table of Contents

Synopsis

Other ingredients used for Tics

Health Concerns

Brands

Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin B6For the health condition: Tics

Table of Contents

Synopsis

Other ingredients used for Tics

Other health conditions supported by vitamin B6

Products containing vitamin B6

Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin B6
For the health condition: Tics