Magnesium and ADHD: recent studies

[notellin]

Here are the studies on PUBMED from 2004 to 2007 on magnesium supplements to reduce ADHD symptoms. All use B6 in conjunction. They indicate positive results.

MARCH 2006
Improvement of neurobehavioral disorders in children supplemented with magnesium-vitamin B6. I. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorders.
• Mousain-Bosc M,
• Roche M,
• Polge A,
• Pradal-Prat D,
• Rapin J,
• Bali JP.

sorry, the place name was all in French (CG)

Some previous studies have reported the involvement of magnesium (Mg) deficiency in children with ADHD syndrome. In this work, 40 children with clinical symptoms of ADHD were followed clinically and biologically during a magnesium-vitamin B6 (Mg-B6) regimen (6 mg/kg/d Mg, 0.6 mg/kg/d vit-B6) which was set up for at least 8 weeks. Symptoms of ADHD (hyperactivity, hyperemotivity/ aggressiveness, lack of attention at school) were scored (0-4) at different times; in parallel, intraerythrocyte Mg2+ (Erc-Mg) and blood ionized Ca2+ (i-Ca) were measured. Children from the ADHD group showed significantly lower Erc-Mg values than control children (n = 36). In almost all cases of ADHD, Mg-B6 regimen for at least two months significantly modified the clinical symptoms of the disease: namely, hyperactivity and hyperemotivity/aggressiveness were reduced, school attention was improved. In parallel, the Mg-B6 regimen led to a significant increase in Erc-Mg values. When the Mg-B6 treatment was stopped, clinical symptoms of the disease reappeared in few weeks together with a decrease in Erc-Mg values. This study brings additional information about the therapeutic role of a Mg-B6 regimen in children with ADHD symptoms.
PMID: 16846100 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

OCTOBER 2004
Magnesium VitB6 intake reduces central nervous system hyperexcitability in children.
• Mousain-Bosc M,
• Roche M,
• Rapin J,
• Bali JP.
Department of Pediatry, CHU Nimes, 30029 Nimes Cedex, France.
OBJECTIVE: Ionic magnesium (Mg(2+)) depletion has long been known to cause hyperexcitability with convulsive seizures in rodents, effects that have been reversed by treatment with magnesium (Mg). Metabolic disorders and genetic alterations are suspected in this pathology, in which Mg(2+) transport and intracellular distribution may be reduced without change in serum Mg(2+) concentrations. We evaluated the effects of Mg(2+)/vitamin B6 regimen on the behavior of 52 hyperexcitable children (under 15 years of age) and their families. METHODS: To assess intracellular Mg(2+), we measured intra-erthrocyte Mg(2+) levels (ERC-Mg). Our reference values for normal subjects were 2.46 to 2.72 mmol/L. In 30 of the 52 hyperactive children, there were low ERC-Mg values: 2.041 +/- 0.279 mmol/L). Combined Mg(2+)/vitamin B6 intake (100 mg/day) for 3 to 24 weeks restored normal ERC-Mg values (2.329 +/- 0.386 mmol/L). RESULTS: In all patients, symptoms of hyperexcitability (physical aggressivity, instability, scholar attention, hypertony, spasm, myoclony) were reduced after 1 to 6 months treatment. Other family members shared similar symptoms, had low ERC-Mg values, and also responded clinically to increased Mg(2+)/vitamin B6 intakes. Two typical families are described. CONCLUSION: This open study indicates that hyperexcitable children have low ERC-Mg with normal serum Mg(2+) values, and that Mg(2+)/vitamin B6 supplementation can restore normal ERC-Mg levels and improve their abnormal behavior.
PMID: 15466962 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

JANUARY 2006
[Effect of MAGNE-B6 on the clinical and biochemical manifestations of the syndrome of attention deficit and hyperactivity in children]
[Article in Russian]
• Nogovitsina OR,
• Levitina EV.
MAGNE-B6 was used for the therapy of a group of 31 children aged from 6 to 12 with attention deficiency and hyperactivity syndrome. The control group included 20 children with similar manifestations of the same pathology, which received a polyvitamin complex. The efficacy of therapy was assessed in the 30th day with the aid of a complex clinical-neuropsychological and biochemical investigations. It was established that the administration of MAGNE-B6 led to improvements in the behavior, decreased the level of anxiety and aggression, improved both large- and small-scale mobility, decreased the level of synkinesis, increased the characteristics of attention, corrected the magnesium homeostasis, and favored normalization of the blood electrolytes. Reliable differences (p < 0.01 or 0.001) between the test and control groups in the degree of expression of the indicated disorders were observed.
PMID: 16579066 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[notellin]

The reason to take B6 with magnesium:

"Magnesium is involved in neuromuscular function as a muscular relaxant but also as a nervous system re-equilibrator. As far as vitamin B6 is concerned, in addition to its action on stress, it promotes digestive absorption and cell magnesium fixation. Vitamin B6 thus helps to limit the body’s magnesium losses and ward off sensitivity or predisposition to stress.

Thus the combination of magnesium and vitamin B6 is beneficial to the body... so as to work hard without overworking. "

As I understand it, the magnesium dosage is up to six time the body weight. You start there, and then decrease, and results can take up to four months.

[charliegirl]

That is quite interesting. Thanks for posting it.