Relationship: Tics and vitamin B6

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

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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.

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

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Health concerns

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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