Mouse study suggests benefits of pyridoxine

Researchers in China report that pyridoxine, a form of vitamin B6, appears to reduce behavioral anomalies, inflammation, and oxidative stress (damage to tissues due to an imbalance of antioxidants and free radicals) in a mouse model of autism.

Ruotong Ruan and colleagues studied BTBR mice, which exhibit strong autistic characteristics. The researchers administered pyridoxine to male mice from day seven to day 14 after birth, and conducted
behavioral tests on the mice when they reached eight weeks of age. In addition, they examined levels of inflammation and oxidative stress in the hippocampi of the mice.

The researchers report, “Postnatal pyridoxine treatment significantly improved social deficits, stereotyped behaviors, and cognitive deficits in BTBR mice.” In addition, they say, pyridoxine administration alleviated neuroinflammation in the hippocampus. Moreover, pyridoxine-treated BTBR mice had elevated hippocampal levels of Nrf2 and HO-1, which reduce oxidative stress.

The researchers conclude, “Postnatal pyridoxine administration might improve autistic-like behaviors in BTBR mice via attenuating oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in the hippocampus.” Their findings, they say, suggest that supplementation with pyridoxine may be beneficial for individuals with autism.

Editor’s note: Dr. Bernard Rimland first reported in the 1970s that pyridoxine (taken in conjunction with magnesium) was helpful for many children with autism.

Citations

“Early pyridoxine administration rescues autism-like behavior in the BTBR T+tf/J autistic model,” Ruotong Ruan, Wenyu Shao, Yichun Su, Jiayin Liu, Jing Luo, Yi Luo, Lian Wang, and Xiaotang Fan, Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, May 4, 2024 (online). Address: Xiaotang Fan, Department of Military Cognitive Psychology, School of Psychology, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China, [email protected].