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document
Pilot study of a moderate dose multivitamin/mineral supplement for children with autistic spectrum disorder . OBJECTIVE Determine the effect of a moderate dose multivitamin/mineral supplement on children with autistic spectrum disorder . DESIGN Randomized , double-blind , placebo-controlled 3-month study . SUBJECTS Twenty ( 20 ) children with autistic spectrum disorder , ages 3-8 years . RESULTS A Global Impressions parental questionnaire found that the supplement group reported statistically significant improvements in sleep and gastrointestinal problems compared to the placebo group . An evaluation of vitamin B ( 6 ) levels prior to the study found that the autistic children had substantially elevated levels of B6 compared to a control group of typical children ( 75 % higher , p < 0.0000001 ) . Vitamin C levels were measured at the end of the study , and the placebo group had levels that were significantly below average for typical children , whereas the supplement group had near-average levels . DISCUSSION The finding of high vitamin B ( 6 ) levels is consistent with recent reports of low levels of pyridoxal-5-phosphate and low activity of pyridoxal kinase ( i.e. , pyridoxal is only poorly converted to pyridoxal-5-phosphate , the enzymatically active form ) . This may explain the functional need for high-dose vitamin B ( 6 ) supplementation in many children and adults with autism .
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Intervention_Pharmacological
moderate dose multivitamin/mineral supplement
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Intervention_Pharmacological
multivitamin/mineral supplement
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Intervention_Control
placebo-controlled
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Intervention_Control
placebo
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Intervention_Pharmacological
vitamin B ( 6 ) supplementation
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Outcome_Other
statistically significant improvements
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Outcome_Physical
sleep and gastrointestinal problems
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Outcome_Physical
vitamin B ( 6 ) levels
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Outcome_Physical
substantially elevated levels of B6
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Outcome_Physical
Vitamin C levels
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Outcome_Physical
high vitamin B ( 6 ) levels
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Outcome_Physical
levels of pyridoxal-5-phosphate
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Outcome_Physical
activity of pyridoxal kinase
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Participant_Condition
children with autistic spectrum disorder .
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Participant_Condition
autistic children