Effect of megavitamin treatment on mental performance and plasma vitamin B6 concentrations in mentally retarded young adults.

Other workers have reported preliminary results suggesting that vitamin and mineral supplements might improve the mental performance of mentally retarded children. The current study examined the effect of 20 wk of the suggested supplement on Stanford Binet scores in mentally retarded adults with nonspecific diagnoses, Down's syndrome, and subjects receiving anticonvulsant medication. No improvement in Stanford Binet scores was observed. However, serum pyridoxal phosphate concentrations were significantly (p less than 0.05) increased in subjects with Down's syndrome receiving the supplement compared with subjects with nonspecific diagnoses receiving the same treatment thus providing further evidence of abnormal vitamin B6 metabolism in Down's syndrome.