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Use of Nutritional Supplements Based on L-Theanine and Vitamin B6 in Children with Tourette Syndrome, with Anxiety Disorders: A Pilot Study.

  • 2022-02-18
  • Nutrients 14(4)
    • Renata Rizzo
    • Adriana Prato
    • Miriam Scerbo
    • Federica Saia
    • Rita Barone
    • Paolo Curatolo

Study Design

Type
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Sample size
n = 34
Population
34 children (30 boys and 4 girls) aged between 4 and 17 years affected by Tourette syndrome or chronic tic disorder, associated with anxiety symptoms
Methods
open-label trial, randomized to receive nutritional supplements based on L-Theanine and vitamin B6, or psychoeducation (PE)
Blinding
Open-label
  • Rigorous Journal

Background

Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by tics and co-occurring disorders. It has been suggested that anxiety occurs in 2-45% patients affected by Tourette syndrome. Despite dietary and nutritional factors have been found to affect a range of neurological conditions, no more studies have investigated the relationship between nutritional supplements and tics.

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness of supplementation of both L-Theanine and Vitamin B6 in reducing tics and co-occurring disorders in a sample of youth with chronic tic disorder (CTD) or Tourette syndrome with anxiety symptoms.

Design

A open-label trial. Patients affected by Tourette syndrome were randomized to receive nutritional supplements based on L-Theanine and vitamin B6, or psychoeducation (PE).

Participants

34 children (30 boys and 4 girls) aged between 4 and 17 years affected by Tourette syndrome or chronic tic disorder, associated with anxiety symptoms.

Results

Patients in both groups showed a reduction in the severity of tic and anxiety symptoms. Supplementation with L-Theanine and vitamin B6 was significantly more effective than psychoeducation in reducing tics and co-occurring disorders, as measured by neuropsychological findings.

Conclusions

Supplementation of both L-Theanine and Vitamin B6 may help in the treatment of tic disorders associated with anxious symptoms. Between-group differences in clinician-rated severity did reach statistical significance only for tics. Despite this finding, further placebo-controlled trials are needed.

Research Insights

  • L-Theanine→Reduced Anxiety

    Between-group differences in clinician-rated severity did reach statistical significance only for tics.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
  • L-Theanine→Reduced Tic Severity

    Supplementation with L-Theanine and vitamin B6 was significantly more effective than psychoeducation in reducing tics and co-occurring disorders, as measured by neuropsychological findings.

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Moderate
  • Vitamin B6→Reduced Anxiety

    Between-group differences in clinician-rated severity did reach statistical significance only for tics.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
  • Vitamin B6→Reduced Tic Severity

    Supplementation with L-Theanine and vitamin B6 was significantly more effective than psychoeducation in reducing tics and co-occurring disorders, as measured by neuropsychological findings.

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Moderate
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