A study published in the Journal of Learning Disabilities (May 1982; 15(5):258–264) examined the effects of B-vitamin supplementation on hyperactivity. The subjects were 100 children who were either hyperactive or diagnosed with cerebral dysfunction. They were given one of the following for three days: 100 mg of thiamin four times daily, calcium pantothenate (a source of vitamin B5) twice daily, 50 mg of vitamin B6 twice daily, or a placebo.
If a subject responded to vitamin therapy, supplementation was repeated for one week, followed by alternating periods of supplementation and placebo. Children who did not respond to the initial vitamin therapy were then given large doses of a B-complex vitamin, niacinamide, or placed on elimination diets.
Hyperkinetic cerebral dysfunction exists for many different reasons, and different subjects responded to different aspects of the therapy. Eight children in the initial group responded to high-dose thiamin, with four requiring continued supplementation. Nine children responded to vitamin B6, with five more responding only at higher doses. Eight children responded to a hypoallergenic diet (the Feingold diet).
The key takeaway is that different children respond to different therapies, and there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution for this particular health issue.
