Emerging Therapeutic Approaches for Tic Alleviation in Tourette Syndrome: The Role of Micronutrients
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Vitamin D (Vit D)
3. Vitamin B6 (Vit B6)
4. Vitamin A (Vit A)
5. Iron
6. Magnesium (Mg)
7. Zinc (Zn)
8. Copper (Cu)
9. Non-Nutritional Strategies
10. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
| TS | Tourette syndrome |
| TD | Tic disorder |
| TTD | Transient tic disorder |
| CTD | Chronic motor or vocal tic disorder |
| OCD | Obsessive–compulsive disorder |
| ASD | Autism spectrum disorder |
| ADHD | Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder |
| CSTC | Cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical |
| DA | Dopamine |
| GABA | γ-aminobutyric acid |
| Vit D | Vitamin D |
| VDR | Vitamin D receptor |
| UVB | Ultraviolet B |
| GDNF | Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor |
| YGTSS | Yale Global Tic Severity Scale |
| HPLC | High-performance Liquid Chromatography |
| MS/MS | Tandem Mass Spectrometry |
| HC | Healthy Controls |
| IU | International Units |
| Vit B6 | Vitamin B6 |
| PLP | Pyridoxal-5′-phosphate |
| PN | Pyridoxine |
| PM | Pyridoxamine |
| PL | Pyridoxal |
| PNP | Pyridoxine 5′-phosphate |
| PMP | Pyridoxamine 5′-phosphate |
| RA | Retinoic acid |
| RAR | Retinoic acid receptor |
| UL | Upper intake level |
| HPA | Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal |
| ACTH | Adrenocorticotropic hormone |
| Mg | Magnesium |
| Zn | Zinc |
| Cu | Copper |
| MRI | Magnetic resonance imaging |
| FDA | Food and Drug Administration |
| AAN | American Academy of Neurology |
| DBS | deep brain stimulation |
| CBIT | Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention |
References
- Widomska, J.; DeWitte, W.; Buitelaar, J.K.; Glennon, J.C.; Poelmans, G. Molecular Landscape of Tourette’s Disorder. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24, 1428. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Serajee, F.J.; Mahbubul Huq, A.H.M. Advances in Tourette syndrome: Diagnoses and treatment. Pediatr. Clin. N. Am. 2015, 62, 687–701. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Du, J.C.; Chiu, T.F.; Lee, K.M.; Wu, H.L.; Yang, Y.C.; Hsu, S.Y.; Sun, C.S.; Hwang, B.; Leckman, J.F. Tourette syndrome in children: An updated review. Pediatr. Neonatol. 2010, 51, 255–264. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Buse, J.; Schoenefeld, K.; Münchau, A.; Roessner, V. Neuromodulation in tourette syndrome: Dopamine and beyond. Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev. 2013, 37, 1069–1084. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Hoekstra, P.J.; Kallenberg, C.G.M.; Korf, J.; Minderaa, R.B. Is Tourette’s syndrome an autoimmune disease? Mol. Psychiatry 2002, 7, 437–445. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Häge, A.; Krämer, R.; Dunlap, M.; Mechler, K.; Müller-Vahl, K.R.; Nagy, P. Emerging therapeutic approaches for Tourette syndrome and other tic disorders—A systematic review of current clinical trials. Eur. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry 2025, 34, 1719–1729. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Mittal, S.O. Tics and Tourette’s syndrome. Drugs Context 2020, 9, 2019–2020. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Yang, C.; Zhang, L.; Zhu, P.; Zhu, C.; Guo, Q. The prevalence of tic disorders for children in China: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine 2016, 95, e4354. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Liu, Z.-S.; Cui, Y.-H.; Sun, D.; Lu, Q.; Jiang, Y.-W.; Jiang, L.; Wang, J.-Q.; Luo, R.; Fang, F.; Zhou, S.-Z.; et al. Current status, diagnosis, and treatment recommendation for tic disorders in China. Front. Psychiatry 2020, 11, 774. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Bitsko, R.H.; Claussen, A.H.; Lichstein, J.; Black, L.I.; Jones, S.E.; Danielson, M.L.; Hoenig, J.M.; Davis Jack, S.P.; Brody, D.J.; Gyawali, S.-G.; et al. Mental Health Surveillance Among Children—United States, 2013–2019. MMWR Suppl. 2022, 71, 1–42. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- CDC’s Data and Statistics on Tourette Syndrome. Available online: https://www.cdc.gov/tourette-syndrome/data/index.html (accessed on 27 September 2025).
- Eapen, V.; Robertson, M.M. Are there distinct subtypes in Tourette syndrome? Pure-Tourette syndrome versus Tourette syndrome-plus, and simple versus complex tics. Neuropsychiatr. Dis. Treat. 2015, 11, 1431–1436. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Set, K.K.; Warner, J.N. Tourette syndrome in children: An update. Curr. Probl. Pediatr. Adolesc. Health Care 2021, 51, 101032. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Kumar, A.; Trescher, W.; Byler, D. Tourette Syndrome and Comorbid Neuropsychiatric conditions. Curr. Dev. Disord. Rep. 2016, 3, 217–221. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Robertson, M.M.; Eapen, V.; Singer, H.S.; Martino, D.; Scharf, J.M.; Paschou, P.; Roessner, V.; Woods, D.W.; Hariz, M.; Mathews, C.A.; et al. Gilles de la Tourette syndrome. Nat. Rev. Dis. Prim. 2017, 3, 16097. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Hsu, C.J.; Wong, L.C.; Lee, W.T. Immunological dysfunction in Tourette syndrome and related disorders. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22, 853. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Gloor, F.T.; Walitza, S. Tic disorders and Tourette syndrome: Current concepts of etiology and treatment in children and adolescents. Neuropediatrics 2016, 47, 84–96. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Qi, Y.; Zheng, Y.; Li, Z.; Liu, Z.; Xiong, L. Genetic studies of tic disorders and tourette syndrome. Methods. Mol. Biol. 2019, 2011, 547–571. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Wang, S.; Xu, Q.; Wang, A.; Yuan, F.; Luo, X.; Wang, Y.; Guo, M.; Zhang, Y.; Zhang, W.; Ji, X.; et al. Correlation Between Tic Disorders and Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels in Chinese Children. Front. Pediatr. 2022, 10, 833371. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Qing, L.; Dan, S.; Zhisheng, L. Interpretation of expert consensus for diagnosis and treatment of tic disorders in China. Chin. J. Appl. Clin. Pediatr. 2021, 36, 647–652. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Yael, D.; Vinner, E.; Bar-Gad, I. Pathophysiology of tic disorders. Mov. Disord. 2015, 30, 1171–1178. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Müller-Vahl, K.R.; Loeber, G.; Kotsiari, A.; Müller-Engling, L.; Frieling, H. Gilles de la tourette syndrome is associated with hypermethylation of the dopamine D2 receptor gene. J. Psychiatr. Res. 2016, 86, 1–8. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Bai, L.; Jin, M.; Zhang, Q.; Sun, S. Progress in research on nutrition, neuroinflammation and dopaminergic alterations in Tic disorders. Front. Pediatr. 2025, 13, 1526117. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Deeb, W.; Malaty, I.A.; Mathews, C.A. Tourette disorder and other tic disorders. Handb. Clin. Neurol. 2019, 165, 123–153. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Kanaan, A.S.; Gerasch, S.; García-García, I.; Lampe, L.; Pampel, A.; Anwander, A.; Near, J.; Möller, H.E.; Müller-Vahl, K. Pathological glutamatergic neurotrans- mission in Gilles de la Tourette syndrome. Brain 2017, 140, 218–234. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Mogwitz, S.; Buse, J.; Ehrlich, S.; Roessner, V. Clinical pharmacology of dopamine-modulating agents in Tourette’s syndrome. Int. Rev. Neurobiol. 2013, 112, 281–349. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Draper, A.; Stephenson, M.C.; Jackson, G.M.; Pepes, S.; Morgan, P.S.; Morris, P.G. Increased GABA contributes to enhanced control over motor excitability in Tourette syndrome. Curr. Biol. 2014, 24, 2343–2347. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ludlow, A.K.; Rogers, S. Understanding the impact of diet and nutrition on symptoms of Tourette syndrome: A scoping review. J. Child Health Care 2018, 22, 68–83. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- van Galen, K.A.; Schrantee, A.; Ter Horst, K.W.; la Fleur, S.E.; Booij, J.; Constable, R.T.; Schwartz, G.J.; DiLeone, R.J.; Serlie, M.J. Brain responses to nutrients are severely impaired and not reversed by weight loss in humans with obesity: A randomized crossover study. Nat. Metab. 2023, 5, 1059–1072. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Madireddy, S.; Madireddy, S. Regulation of Reactive Oxygen Species-Mediated Damage in the Pathogenesis of Schizophrenia. Brain Sci. 2020, 10, 742. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Cui, X.; Pertile, R.; Liu, P.; Eyles, D.W. Vitamin D regulates tyrosine hydroxylase expression: N-cadherin a possible mediator. Neurosci. 2015, 304, 90–100. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- di Michele, F.; Talamo, A.; Niolu, C.; Siracusano, A. Vitamin D and N-Acetyl Cysteine Supplementation in Treatment-Resistant Depressive Disorder Patients: A General Review. Curr. Pharm. Des. 2020, 26, 2442–2459. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Mora, J.R.; Iwata, M.; von Andrian, U.H. Vitamin effects on the immune system: Vitamins A and D take centre stage. Nat. Rev. Immunol. 2008, 8, 685–698. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Holick, M.F. Vitamin D deficiency. N. Engl. J. Med. 2007, 357, 266–281. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Skv, M.; Abraham, S.M.; Eshwari, O.; Golla, K.; Jhelum, P.; Maity, S.; Komal, P. Tremendous Fidelity of Vitamin D3 in Age-related Neurological Disorders. Mol. Neurobiol. 2024, 61, 7211–7238. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Athanassiou, L.; Mavragani, C.P.; Koutsilieris, M. The immunomodulatory properties of vitamin D. Mediterr. J. Rheumatol. 2022, 33, 7–13. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Orme, R.P.; Middleditch, C.; Waite, L.; Fricker, R.A. The Role of Vitamin D3 in the Development and Neuroprotection of Midbrain Dopamine Neurons. Vitam. Horm. 2016, 100, 273–297. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Eyles, D.W.; Burne, T.H.J.; McGrath, J.J. Vitamin D, effects on brain development, adult brain function and the links between low levels of vitamin D and neuropsychiatric disease. Front. Neuroendocrinol. 2013, 34, 47–64. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Groves, N.J.; McGrath, J.J.; Burne, T.H. Vitamin D as a neurosteroid affecting the developing and adult brain. Annu. Rev. Nutr. 2014, 34, 117–141. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Muscogiuri, G.; Altieri, B.; Annweiler, C.; Balercia, G.; Pal, H.B.; Boucher, B.J.; Cannell, J.J.; Foresta, C.; Grübler, M.R.; Kotsa, K.; et al. Vitamin D and chronic diseases: The current state of the art. Arch. Toxicol. 2017, 91, 97–107. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Lin, X.; Jiang, J.; Chen, X.; Chen, Y. Vitamin D status and tic disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Front. Pediatr. 2023, 11, 1173741. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Cui, X.; Pelekanos, M.; Burne, T.H.J.; McGrath, J.J.; Eyles, D.M. Maternal vitamin D deficiency alters the expression of genes involved in dopamine specification in the developing rat mesencephalon. Neurosci. Lett. 2010, 486, 220–223. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Eyles, D.W.; Liu, P.Y.; Josh, P.; Cui, X. Intracellular distribution of the vitamin D receptor in the brain: Comparison with classic target tissues and redistribution with development. Neuroscience 2014, 268, 1–9. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Pertile, R.A.N.; Cui, X.; Hammond, L.; Eyles, D.W. Vitamin D regulation of GDNF/Ret signaling in dopaminergic neurons. FASEB J. 2018, 32, 819–828. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Brown, J.; Bianco, J.I.; Mcgrath, J.J.; Eyles, D.W. 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 induces nerve growth factor, promotes neurite outgrowth and inhibits mitosis in embryonic rat hippocampal neurons. Neurosci. Lett. 2003, 343, 139–143. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Kalueff, A.V.; Eremin, K.O.; Tuohimaa, P. Mechanisms of neuroprotective action of vitamin D3. Biochemistry 2004, 69, 738–741. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kočovská, E.; Fernell, E.; Billstedt, E.; Minnis, H.; Gillberg, C. Vitamin D and autism: Clinical review. Res. Dev. Disabil. 2012, 33, 1541–1550. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Lerner, A.; Bagic, A.; Simmons, J.M.; Mari, Z.; Bonne, O.; Xu, B.; Kazuba, D.; Herscovitch, P.; Carson, R.E.; Murphy, D.L.; et al. Widespread abnormality of the γ-aminobutyric acid-ergic system in Tourette syndrome. Brain 2012, 135, 1926–1936. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Madireddy, S.; Madireddy, S. Therapeutic Interventions to Mitigate Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Oxidative Stress-Induced Damage in Patients with Bipolar Disorder. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23, 1844. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Menéndez, S.G.; Manucha, W. Vitamin D as a modulator of neuroinflammation: Implications for brain health. Curr. Pharm. Des. 2024, 30, 323–332. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kočovská, E.; Gaughran, F.; Krivoy, A.; Meier, U.C. Vitamin-D deficiency as a potential environmental risk factor in multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia, and autism. Front. Psych. 2017, 8, 47. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Wang, C.-X.; Wang, B.; Sun, J.-J.; Xiao, C.-Y.; Ma, H.; Jia, F.-Y.; Li, H.-H. Circulating retinol and 25(OH)D contents and their association with symptoms in children with chronic tic disorders. Eur. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry 2024, 33, 1017–1028. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Pertile, R.A.N.; Brigden, R.; Raman, V.; Cui, X.; Du, Z.; Eyles, D. Vitamin D: A potent regulator of dopaminergic neuron differentiation and function. J. Neurochem. 2023, 166, 779–789. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Li, H.-H.; Wang, B.; Shan, L.; Wang, C.-X.; Jia, F.-Y. Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in children with tic disorders. Chin. J. Contemp. Pediatr. 2017, 19, 1165–1168. [Google Scholar]
- Li, H.-H.; Shan, L.; Wang, B.; Du, L.; Xu, Z.-D.; Jia, F.-Y. Serum 25-hyroxyvitamin d levels and tic severity in Chinese children with tic disorders. Psychiatry Res. 2018, 267, 80–84. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Wang, A.; Zhang, Z.; Li, Y.; Tian, Y. Correlation between Vitamin A, D and E and Severity of Tic Disorder. J. Pediatr. Pharm. 2022, 28, 31–35. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ge, L.; Jin, X.; Zhu, L. Expression and correlation of 25 hydroxyvitamin D and nerve growth factor in serum of children with tourette syndrome. Labeled Immunoass. Clin. Med. 2020, 27, 1943–1946. [Google Scholar]
- You, H.; Zhou, Y.; Xie, J.; Jin, Z.; Wang, G.; Sun, K. Correlation between serum vitamin D and tic disorder. Chin. J. Child Health Care 2022, 30, 904–907. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Wang, Y.M.; Jia, R.M.; Song, H.F. Relationship between tic disorder in children and serum iron, ferritin and 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Med. Innov. China 2022, 19, 45–50. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Li, L.-N.; Xu, Y.; He, X.-J.; Zhang, W.-X.; Zhang, H.-F.; Song, L.; Shi, H.-S.; Tian, X.-Y.; Yan, X. Effects and mechanisms of vitamins A and D on behavior associated with Tourette syndrome in rats. Front. Nutr. 2025, 12, 1561693. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Mohamed, Z.A.; Bai, M.; Dong, H.; Xue, Y.; Jia, F.; Feng, J. Efficacy of high-dose vs. low-dose vitamin D3 supplementation in children with chronic tic disorders: A randomized controlled trial. Nutr. J. 2025, 24, 44. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Li, H.-H.; Xu, Z.-D.; Wang, B.; Feng, J.-Y.; Dong, H.-Y.; Jia, F.-Y. Clinical improvement following vitamin D3 supplementation in children with chronic tic disorders. Neuropsychiatr. Dis. Treat. 2019, 15, 2443–2450. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Garcia-Lopez, R.; Perea-Milla, E.; Garcia, C.R.; Rivas-Ruiz, F.; Romero-Gonzalez, J.; Moreno, J.L.; Faus, V.; Aguas Gdel, C.; Diaz, J.C. New therapeutic approach to Tourette Syndrome in children based on a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind phase IV study of the effectiveness and safety of magnesium and vitamin B6. Trials 2009, 10, 16. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Rizzo, R.; Prato, A.; Scerbo, M.; Saia, F.; Barone, R.; Curatolo, P. Use of Nutritional Supplements Based on L-Theanine and Vitamin B6 in Children with Tourette Syndrome, with Anxiety Disorders: A Pilot Study. Nutrients 2022, 14, 852. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- García-López, R.; Romero-González, J.; Perea-Milla, E.; Ruiz-García, C.; Rivas-Ruiz, F.; de Las Mulas Béjar, M. An open study evaluating the efficacy and security of magnesium and vitamin B6 as a treatment of Tourette syndrome in children. Med. Clin. 2008, 131, 689–691. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Hou, C.; Yang, Z.C.; Liu, X.M.; Sun, M.X.; Yi, M.J. Correlation between serum vitamin A/D and tic disorder symptom severity and clinical type. Chin. J. Behav. Med. Brain Sci. 2020, 29, 308–314. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Gorman, D.A.; Zhu, H.; Anderson, G.M.; Davies, M.; Peterson, B.S. Ferritin Levels and Their Association with Regional Brain Volumes in Tourette’s Syndrome. Am. J. Psychiatry 2006, 163, 1264–1272. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Qian, R.; Ma, Y.; You, L.; Zhao, Y.; Li, S.; Shen, J.; Jiang, L.; Yang, C.; Jiang, P.; Yuan, Z.; et al. The Blood Levels of Trace Elements Are Lower in Children with Tic Disorder: Results from a Retrospective Study. Front. Neurol. 2019, 10, 1324. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Avrahami, M.; Barzilay, R.; HarGil, M.; Weizman, A.; Watemberg, N. Serum ferritin levels are lower in children with tic disorders compared with children without tics: A cross-sectional study. J. Child Adolesc. Psychopharmacol. 2017, 27, 192–195. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Ghosh, D.; Burkman, E. Relationship of serum ferritin level and tic severity in children with Tourette syndrome. Child. Nerv. Syst. 2017, 33, 1373–1378. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Luo, M.; Xiao, H.; Rao, M.; Li, J.; Zhao, Y. Levels and significance of serum ferritin, zinc and vitamin D in children with tic disorders. Lab. Med. Clin. 2023, 20, 3611–3614. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Galior, K.; Grebe, S.; Singh, R. Development of vitamin D toxicity from overcorrection of vitamin D deficiency: A review of case reports. Nutrients 2018, 10, 953. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Rizzoli, R. Vitamin D supplementation: Upper limit for safety revisited? Aging Clin. Exp. Res. 2021, 33, 19–24. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS). Vitamin D. Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Available online: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamind-HealthProfessional/ (accessed on 9 December 2025).
- National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS). Dietary Supplement Fact Sheets. Available online: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/ (accessed on 9 December 2025).
- Zhao, Y.; Zhao, T.; Liu, X.; Li, R.; Xiao, H. Vitamin B6 Nutrition, Metabolism, and the Relationship of Diseases: Current Concepts and Future Research. J. Future Foods 2025, 6, 765–779. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Bird, R.P. Chapter Four—The Emerging Role of Vitamin B6 in Inflammation and Carcinogenesis. Adv. Food. Nutr. Res. 2018, 83, 151–194. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Mocellin, S.; Briarava, M.; Pilati, P. Vitamin B6 and Cancer Risk: A Field Synopsis and Meta-Analysis. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 2017, 109, djw230. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Sato, K. Why is vitamin B6 effective in alleviating the symptoms of autism? Med. Hypotheses 2018, 115, 103–106. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Spinneker, A.; Sola, R.; Lemmen, V.; Castillo, M.J.; Pietrzik, K.; González-Gross, M. Vitamin B6 status, deficiency and its consequences—An overview. Nutr. Hosp. 2007, 22, 7–24. [Google Scholar]
- Komatsu, S.; Yanaka, N.; Matsubara, K.; Kato, N. Antitumor effect of vitamin B6 and its mechanisms. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 2003, 1647, 127–130. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Wondrak, G.T.; Jacobson, E.L. Vitamin B6: Beyond coenzyme functions. Subcell. Biochem. 2012, 56, 291–300. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Marzio, A.; Merigliano, C.; Gatti, M.; Verni, F. Sugar and chromosome stability: Clastogenic effects of sugars in vitamin B6-deficient cells. PLoS Genet. 2014, 10, e1004199. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Jang, H.S.; Roh, S.Y.; Jeong, E.H.; Kim, B.S.; Sunwoo, M.K. Ginkgotoxin Induced Seizure Caused by Vitamin B6 Deficiency. J. Epilepsy Res. 2015, 5, 104–106. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Rivero, M.; Novo, N.; Medina, M. Pyridoxal 5′-Phosphate Biosynthesis by Pyridox-(am)-ine 5′-Phosphate Oxidase: Species-Specific Features. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25, 3174. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Salam, R.A.; Zuberi, N.F.; Bhutta, Z.A. Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) supplementation during pregnancy or labour for maternal and neonatal outcomes. Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. 2015, 2015, CD000179. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Schellack, N.; Yotsombut, K.; Sabet, A.; Nafach, J.; Hiew, F.L.; Kulkantrakorn, K. Expert Consensus on Vitamin B6 Therapeutic Use for Patients: Guidance on Safe Dosage, Duration and Clinical Management. Drug Healthc. Patient Saf. 2025, 17, 97–108. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Miodownik, C.; Lerner, V.; Vishne, T.; Sela, B.-A.; Levine, J. High-dose Vitamin B6 Decreases Homocysteine Serum Levels in Patients with Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorders: A Preliminary Study. Clin. Neuropharmacol. 2007, 30, 13–17. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Lerner, V.; Miodownik, C.; Kaptsan, A.; Cohen, H.; Loewenthal, U.; Kotler, M. Vitamin B6 as add-on treatment in chronic schizophrenic and schizoaffective patients: A double-blind, placebo-controlled study. J. Clin. Psychiatry 2002, 63, 54–58. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Han, A.; Almeida, L.; Anand, N.; Salloum, I.M.; Kanaan, S.; Gadad, B.S.; Daher, J.P.L. Exploring neuropsychiatric manifestations of vitamin B complex deficiencies. Front. Psychiatry 2025, 16, 1569826. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Orywal, K.; Socha, K.; Iwaniuk, P.; Kaczyński, P.; Farhan, J.A.; Zoń, W.; Łozowicka, B.; Perkowski, M.; Mroczko, B. Vitamins in the Prevention and Support Therapy of Neurodegenerative Diseases. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26, 1333. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Przybelski, A.G.; Bendlin, B.B.; Jones, J.E.; Vogt, N.M.; Przybelski, R.J. Vitamin B6 and vitamin D deficiency co-occurrence in geriatric memory patients. Alzheimer’s Dement. Diagn. Assess. Dis. Monit. 2024, 16, e12525. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Indika, N.; Frye, R.E.; Rossignol, D.A.; Owens, S.C.; Senarathne, U.D.; Grabrucker, A.M.; Perera, R.; Engelen, M.P.; Deutz, N.E. The Rationale for Vitamin, Mineral, and Cofactor Treatment in the Precision Medical Care of Autism Spectrum Disorder. J. Pers. Med. 2023, 13, 252. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Malouf, R.; Grimley, E.J. Vitamin B6 for cognition. Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. 2003, 4, CD004393. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Parra, M.; Stahl, S.; Hellmann, H. Vitamin B6 and Its Role in Cell Metabolism and Physiology. Cells 2018, 7, 84. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Hadtstein, F.; Vrolijk, M. Vitamin B-6-Induced Neuropathy: Exploring the Mechanisms of Pyridoxine Toxicity. Adv. Nutr. 2021, 12, 1911–1929. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS). Vitamin B6. Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Available online: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitaminb6-HealthProfessional/ (accessed on 9 December 2025).
- Olson, C.R.; Mello, C.V. Significance of vitamin A to brain function, behavior and learning. Mol. Nutr. Food. Res. 2010, 54, 489–495. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Marie, A.; Darricau, M.; Touyarot, K.; Parr-Brownlie, L.C.; Bosch-Bouju, C. Role and Mechanism of Vitamin A Metabolism in the Pathophysiology of Parkinson’s Disease. J. Park. Dis. 2021, 11, 949–970. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Maden, M. Retinoic acid in the development, regeneration and maintenance of the nervous system. Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 2007, 8, 755–765. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Das, B.C.; Dasgupta, S.; Ray, S.K. Potential therapeutic roles of retinoids for prevention of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease. Neural Regen. Res. 2019, 14, 1880–1892. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Parastouei, K.; Mirshafiey, A.; Eshraghian, M.R.; Shiri-Shahsavar, M.R.; Solaymani-Mohammadi, F.; Chahardoli, R.; Alvandi, E.; Saboor-Yaraghi, A.A. The effect of 1, 25(OH)2 D3 (calcitriol) alone and in combination with all-trans retinoic acid on ROR-γt, IL-17, TGF-β, and FOXP3 gene expression in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Nutr. Neurosci. 2018, 21, 210–218. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Chesney, R.W.; Han, X. Differential regulation of TauT by calcitriol and retinoic acid via VDR/RXR in LLC-PK1 and MCF-7 cells. Adv. Exp. Med. Biol. 2013, 776, 291–305. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Hou, N.; Ren, L.; Gong, M.; Bi, Y.; Gu, Y.; Dong, Z.; Liu, Y.; Chen, J.; Li, T. Vitamin A deficiency impairs spatial learning and memory: The mechanism of abnormal CBP-dependent histone acetylation regulated by retinoic acid receptor alpha. Mol. Neurobiol. 2015, 51, 633–647. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Chen, B.-W.; Zhang, K.-W.; Zhang, K.-W.; Chen, S.-J.; Chun, Y.; Li, P.-G. Vitamin A Deficiency Exacerbates Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis and Cognitive Deficits in Amyloid Precursor Protein/Presenilin 1 Transgenic Mice. Front. Aging Neurosci. 2021, 13, 753351. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Pallet, V.; Touyarot, K. Vitamin A and cognitive processes. Nutr. Aging 2015, 3, 21–31. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Rataj-Baniowska, M.; Niewiadomska-Cimicka, A.; Paschaki, M.; Szyszka-Niagolov, M.; Carramolino, L.; Torres, M.; Dollé, P.; Krężel, W. Retinoic acid receptor β controls development of striatonigral projection neurons through FGF-dependent and Meis1-dependent mechanisms. J. Neurosci. 2015, 35, 14467–14475. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Pan, J.; Yu, J.; Sun, L.; Xie, C.; Chang, L.; Wu, J.; Hawes, S.; Saez-Atienzar, S.; Zheng, W.; Kung, J.; et al. ALDH1A1 regulates postsynaptic μ-opioid receptor expression in dorsal striatal projection neurons and mitigates dyskinesia through transsynaptic retinoic acid signaling. Sci. Rep. 2019, 9, 3602. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Niewiadomska-Cimicka, A.; Krzyżosiak, A.; Ye, T.; Podleśny-Drabiniok, A.; Dembélé, D.; Dollé, P.; Krężel, W. Genome-wide analysis of RARβ transcriptional targets in mouse striatum links retinoic acid signaling with Huntington’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Mol. Neurobiol. 2017, 54, 3859–3878. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Lane, M.A.; Bailey, S.J. Role of retinoid signalling in the adult brain. Prog. Neurobiol. 2005, 75, 275–293. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Bian, Q.X.; Jiang, B.B.; Tian, W.T.; Chen, D.Y. The application value of vitamin A, D and five-dimension lysine granules in children with tic disorders. Hebei Med. J. 2020, 42, 3601–3604. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Olson, J.M.; Ameer, M.A.; Goyal, A. Vitamin A Toxicity. In StatPearls; StatPearls Publishing: Treasure Island, FL, USA, 2025. [Google Scholar]
- Pestalardo, M.L.; Bevilacqua, C.S.; Amante, M.F. Vitamin A toxicity and hepatic pathology: A comprehensive review. World J. Hepatol. 2025, 17, 107738. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Penniston, K.L.; Tanumihardjo, S.A. The acute and chronic toxic effects of vitamin A. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 2006, 83, 191–201. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS). Vitamin A and Carotenoids. Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Available online: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamina-HealthProfessional/ (accessed on 9 December 2025).
- Gkotsoulias, D.G.; Rullmann, M.; Schmitt, S.; Bujanow, A.; Zientek, F.; Messerschmidt, K.; Pampel, A.; Büttner, A.P.; Schildan, A.; Sabri, O.; et al. Abnormalities of iron homeostasis and the dopaminergic system in Tourette syndrome revealed by 7T MRI and PET. Brain Commun. 2025, 7, fcaf104. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Möller, H.E.; Bossoni, L.; Connor, J.R.; Crichton, R.R.; Does, M.D.; Ward, R.J.; Zecca, L.; Zucca, F.A.; Ronen, I. Iron, myelin, and the brain: Neuroimaging meets neurobiology. Trends Neurosci. 2019, 42, 384–401. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Obeagu, E.I. Iron homeostasis and health: Understanding its role beyond blood health—A narrative review. Ann. Med. Surg. 2025, 87, 3362–3371. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Hare, D.; Ayton, S.; Bush, A.; Lei, P. A delicate balance: Iron metabolism and diseases of the brain. Front. Aging Neurosci. 2013, 5, 34. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Zhang, H.; Zhang, K.; Jiao, F.; Xu, C. Serum iron status and risk of Tourette’s syndrome: A Mendelian randomization study. Eur. J. Pediatr. 2025, 184, 454. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Bianco, L.; Unger, E.; Beard, J. Iron deficiency and neuropharmacology. In Iron Deficiency and Overload; Yehuda, S., Mostofsky, D., Eds.; Humana Press: Totowa, NJ, USA, 2010; pp. 141–158. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Klein, M.O.; Battagello, D.S.; Cardoso, A.R.; Hauser, D.N.; Bittencourt, J.C.; Correa, R.G. Dopamine: Functions, signaling, and association with neurological diseases. Cell Mol. Neurobiol. 2019, 39, 31–59. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Felt, B.T.; Beard, J.L.; Schallert, T.; Shao, J.; Aldridge, J.W.; Connor, J.R.; Georgieff, M.K.; Lozoff, B. Persistent neurochemical and behavioral abnormalities in adulthood despite early iron supplementation for perinatal iron deficiency anemia in rats. Behav. Brain Res. 2006, 171, 261–270. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Burhans, M.S.; Dailey, C.; Beard, Z.; Wiesinger, J.; Murray-Kolb, L.; Jones, B.C.; Beard, J.L. Iron deficiency: Differential effects on monoamine transporters. Nutr. Neurosci. 2005, 8, 31–38. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Li, Y.; Kim, J.; Buckett, P.D.; Bohlke, M.; Maher, T.J.; Wessling-Resnick, M. Severe postnatal iron deficiency alters emotional behavior and dopamine levels in the prefrontal cortex of young male rats. J. Nutr. 2011, 141, 2133–2138. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ward, K.L.; Tkac, I.; Jing, Y.; Felt, B.; Beard, J.; Connor, J.; Schallert, T.; Georgieff, M.K.; Rao, R. Gestational and lactational iron deficiency alters the developing striatal metabolome and associated behaviors in young rats. J. Nutr. 2007, 137, 1043–1049. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Batra, J.; Seth, P.K. Effect of iron deficiency on developing rat brain. Indian J. Clin. Biochem. 2002, 17, 108–114. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Rao, R.; Tkac, I.; Townsend, E.L.; Gruetter, R.; Georgieff, M.K. Perinatal iron deficiency alters the neurochemical profile of the developing rat hippocampus. J. Nutr. 2003, 133, 3215–3221. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Agarwal, K.N. Iron and the brain: Neurotransmitter receptors and magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Br. J. Nutr. 2001, 85, S147–S150. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Erikson, K.M.; Shihabi, Z.K.; Aschner, J.L.; Aschner, M. Manganese accumulates in iron-deficient rat brain regions in a heterogeneous fashion and is associated with neurochemical alterations. Biol. Trace Elem. Res. 2002, 87, 143–156. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Lin, L.; Ruan, Z.; Li, Y.; Qiu, H.; Deng, C.; Qian, L.; Cui, W.; Tang, W.; Yang, Z.; Cheng, Y.; et al. Brain Iron Alteration in Pediatric Tourette Syndrome: A Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping Study. Eur. J. Neurol. 2025, 32, e70054. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Cusick, S.E.; Georgieff, M.K. The Role of Nutrition in Brain Development: The Golden Opportunity of the ‘First 1000 Days’. J. Pediatr. 2016, 175, 16–21. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Levi, S.; Ripamonti, M.; Moro, A.S.; Cozzi, A. Iron imbalance in neurodegeneration. Mol. Psychiatry 2024, 29, 1139–1152. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Tang, C.Y.; Wen, F. Serum ferritin levels in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and tic disorder. World J. Clin. Cases 2022, 10, 7749–7759. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Berglund, S.; Domellöf, M. Meeting iron needs for infants and children. Curr. Opin. Clin. Nutr. Metab. Care 2014, 17, 267–272. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Beard, J. Iron Deficiency Alters Brain Development and Functioning. J. Nutr. 2003, 133, 1468S–1472S. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kim, J.; Wessling-Resnick, M. Iron and mechanisms of emotional behavior. J. Nutr. Biochem. 2014, 25, 1101–1107. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Aggett, P.J. Iron. In Present Knowledge in Nutrition, 11th ed.; Marriott, B.P., Birt, D.F., Stallings, V.A., Yates, A.A., Eds.; Elsevier: Cambridge, MA, USA, 2020; Volume 1, pp. 375–392. [Google Scholar]
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS). Iron. Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Available online: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/iron-HealthProfessional/ (accessed on 9 December 2025).
- Baddam, S.; Chen, R.J. Iron Overload and Toxicity. In StatPearls; StatPearls Publishing: Treasure Island, FL, USA, 2025. [Google Scholar]
- Rasel, M.; Hashmi, M.F.; Mahboobi, S.K. Transfusion Iron Overload. In StatPearls; StatPearls Publishing: Treasure Island, FL, USA, 2024. [Google Scholar]
- Reddy, S.T.; Soman, S.S.; Yee, J. Magnesium Balance and Measurement. Adv. Chronic Kidney Dis. 2018, 25, 224–229. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Cepeda, V.; Ródenas-Munar, M.; García, S.; Bouzas, C.; Tur, J.A. Unlocking the Power of Magnesium: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Regarding Its Role in Oxidative Stress and Inflammation. Antioxidants 2025, 14, 740. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Fiorentini, D.; Cappadone, C.; Farruggia, G.; Prata, C. Magnesium: Biochemistry, Nutrition, Detection, and Social Impact of Diseases Linked to Its Deficiency. Nutrients 2021, 13, 1136. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Konrad, M.; Schlingmann, K.P.; Gudermann, T. Insights into the molecular nature of magnesium homeostasis. Am. J. Physiol. Renal. Physiol. 2004, 286, F599–F605. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Pouteau, E.; Kabir-Ahmadi, M.; Noah, L.; Mazur, A.; Dye, L.; Hellhammer, J.; Pickering, G.; Dubray, C. Superiority of magnesium and vitamin B6 over magnesium alone on severe stress in healthy adults with low magnesemia: A randomized, single-blind clinical trial. PLoS ONE 2018, 13, e0208454. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- de Baaij, J.H.; Hoenderop, J.G.; Bindels, R.J. Magnesium in man: Implications for health and disease. Physiol. Rev. 2015, 95, 1–46. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Laires, M.J.; Monteiro, C.P.; Bicho, M. Role of cellular magnesium in health and human disease. Front. Biosci. 2004, 9, 76. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Murck, H. Magnesium and affective disorders. Nutr. Neurosci. 2002, 5, 375–389. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Held, K.; Antonijevic, I.A.; Künzel, H.; Uhr, M.; Wetter, T.C.; Golly, I.C.; Steiger, A.; Murck, H. Oral Mg2+ supplementation reverses age-related neuroendocrine and sleep EEG changes in humans. Pharmacopsychiatry 2002, 35, 135–143. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Dmitrašinović, G.; Pešić, V.; Stanić, D.; Plećaš-Solarović, B.; Dajak, M.; Ignjatović, S. ACTH, Cortisol and IL-6 Levels in Athletes following Magnesium Supplementation. J. Med. Biochem. 2016, 35, 375–384. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Papadopol, V.; Nechifor, M. Magnesium in neuroses and neuroticism. In Magnesium in the Central Nervous System; Vink, R., Nechifor, M., Eds.; University of Adelaide Press: Adelaide, Australia, 2011. [Google Scholar]
- Boyle, N.B.; Lawton, C.; Dye, L. The Effects of Magnesium Supplementation on Subjective Anxiety and Stress—A Systematic Review. Nutrients 2017, 9, 429. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Clerc, P.; Young, C.A.; Bordt, E.A.; Grigore, A.M.; Fiskum, G.; Polster, B.M. Magnesium sulfate protects against the bioenergetic consequences of chronic glutamate receptor stimulation. PLoS ONE 2013, 8, e79982. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Smith, B.L.; Ludlow, A.K. Patterns of Nutritional Supplement Use in Children with Tourette Syndrome. J. Diet. Suppl. 2021, 20, 28–43. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kirkland, A.E.; Sarlo, G.L.; Holton, K.F. The Role of Magnesium in Neurological Disorders. Nutrients 2018, 10, 730. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Fatima, G.; Dzupina, A.; Alhmadi, H.B.; Magomedova, A.; Siddiqui, Z.; Mehdi, A.; Hadi, N. Magnesium Matters: A Comprehensive Review of Its Vital Role in Health and Diseases. Cureus 2024, 16, e71392. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Pickering, G.; Mazur, A.; Trousselard, M.; Bienkowski, P.; Yaltsewa, N.; Amessou, M.; Noah, L.; Pouteau, E. Magnesium Status and Stress: The Vicious Circle Concept Revisited. Nutrients 2020, 12, 3672. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Grimaldi, B.L. The central role of magnesium deficiency in Tourette’s syndrome: Causal relationships between magnesium deficiency, altered biochemical pathways and symptoms relating to Tourette’s syndrome and several reported comorbid conditions. Med. Hypotheses 2002, 58, 47–60. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Azmeen, A.; Condit, D.; Rosenberg, E.; Mcpeck, S.; Deengar, A.; Sathyan, S.; Grover, P.; Nadler, E. A Case of Catastrophic Magnesium Overdose. CHEST 2021, 160, A954–A955. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Musso, C.G. Magnesium metabolism in health and disease. Int. Urol. Nephrol. 2009, 41, 357–362. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS). Magnesium. Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Available online: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/ (accessed on 9 December 2025).
- McCall, K.A.; Huang, C.; Fierke, C.A. Function and mechanism of zinc metalloenzymes. J. Nutr. 2000, 130, 1437S–1446S. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Reed, S.; Qin, X.; Ran-Ressler, R.; Brenna, J.T.; Glahn, R.P.; Tako, E. Dietary zinc deficiency affects blood linoleic acid: Dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (LA:DGLA) ratio; a sensitive physiological marker of zinc status in vivo (Gallus gallus). Nutrients 2014, 6, 1164–1180. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Zastrow, M.L.; Pecoraro, V.L. Designing hydrolytic zinc metalloenzymes. Biochemistry 2014, 53, 957–978. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Cheng, Y.; Chen, H. Aberrance of Zinc Metalloenzymes-Induced Human Diseases and Its Potential Mechanisms. Nutrients 2021, 13, 4456. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Floriańczyk, B. Role of Zinc in nervous system cells. J. Pre-Clin. Clin. Res. 2011, 5, 12–15. [Google Scholar]
- Choi, S.; Hong, D.K.; Choi, B.Y.; Suh, S.W. Zinc in the Brain: Friend or Foe? Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21, 8941. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Li, Z.; Liu, Y.; Wei, R.; Yong, V.W.; Xue, M. The Important Role of Zinc in Neurological Diseases. Biomolecules 2022, 13, 28. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Madireddy, S.; Madireddy, S. Therapeutic Strategies to Ameliorate Neuronal Damage in Epilepsy by Regulating Oxidative Stress, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, and Neuroinflammation. Brain Sci. 2023, 13, 784. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Wessells, K.R.; Brown, K.H. Estimating the global prevalence of zinc deficiency: Results based on zinc availability in national food supplies and the prevalence of stunting. PLoS ONE 2012, 7, e50568. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Hettiarachchi, P.; Shigemoto, A.; Hickey, E.E.; Burdette, S.C.; Johnson, M.A. Zinc-Dependent Modulation of Dopamine Release and Uptake Is Altered in Parkinson’s Disease Model Zebrafish. ACS Chem. Neurosci. 2025, 16, 1872–1882. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Takeda, A.; Hirate, M.; Oku, N. Release of glutamate and GABA in the hippocampus under zinc deficiency. J. Neurosci. Res. 2003, 72, 537–542. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Landau, Y.; Steinberg, T.; Richmand, B.; Leckman, J.F.; Apter, A. Involvement of immunologic and biochemical mechanisms in the pathogenesis of Tourette’s syndrome. J. Neural. Transm. 2012, 119, 621–626. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed][Green Version]
- Schoofs, H.; Schmit, J.; Rink, L. Zinc Toxicity: Understanding the Limits. Molecules 2024, 29, 3130. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Duncan, A.; Yacoubian, C.; Watson, N.; Morrison, I. The risk of copper deficiency in patients prescribed zinc supplements. J. Clin. Pathol. 2015, 68, 723–725. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Dietary Supplements. Zinc, Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Available online: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/zinc-HealthProfessional/ (accessed on 9 December 2025).
- Yu, W.R.; Jiang, H.; Wang, J.; Xie, J.X. Copper (Cu2+) induces degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the nigrostriatal system of rats. Neurosci. Bull. 2008, 24, 73–78. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kondo, M.; Hara, H.; Kamijo, F.; Kamiya, T.; Adachi, T. 6-Hydroxydopamine disrupts cellular copper homeostasis in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Metallomics 2021, 13, mfab041. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- García, C.R.; Angelé-Martínez, C.; Wilkes, J.A.; Wang, H.C.; Battin, E.E.; Brumaghim, J.L. Prevention of iron- and copper-mediated DNA damage by catecholamine and amino acid neurotransmitters, L-DOPA, and curcumin: Metal binding as a general antioxidant mechanism. Dalton Trans. 2012, 41, 6458–6467. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kaler, S.; Holmes, C. Catecholamine metabolites affected by the copper-dependent enzyme dopamine-beta-hydroxylase provide sensitive biomarkers for early diagnosis of Menkes Disease and Viral-mediated ATP7A gene therapy. Adv. Pharmacol. 2013, 68, 223–233. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Goez, H.R.; Jacob, F.D.; Yager, J.Y. Lingual Dyskinesia and Tics: A Novel Presentation of Copper-Metabolism Disorder. Pediatrics 2011, 127, e505–e508. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kodama, H.; Fujisawa, C.; Bhadhprasit, W. Inherited copper transport disorders: Biochemical mechanisms, diagnosis and treatment. Curr. Drug Metab. 2012, 13, 237–250. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Llanos, R.M.; Mercer, J.F. The molecular basis of copper homeostasis copper-related disorders. DNA Cell Biol. 2002, 21, 259–270. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Viktorinova, A.; Ursinyova, M.; Trebaticka, J.; Uhnakova, I.; Durackova, Z.; Masanova, V. Changed plasma levels of zinc and copper to zinc ratio and their possible associations with parent- and teacher-rated symptoms in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Biol. Trace. Elem. Res. 2016, 169, 1–7. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Royer, A.; Sharman, T. Copper Toxicity. In StatPearls; StatPearls Publishing: Treasure Island, FL, USA, 2025. [Google Scholar]
- Chen, H.; Li, D.; Zhang, H.; Zhang, M.; Lin, Y.; He, H.; Liu, A.; Shen, S.; Wang, Y.; Han, Z. Mechanisms of copper metabolism and cuproptosis: Implications for liver diseases. Front. Immunol. 2025, 16, 1633711. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Eom, S.Y.; Yim, D.H.; Huang, M.; Park, C.H.; Kim, G.B.; Yu, S.D.; Choi, B.S.; Park, J.D.; Kim, Y.D.; Kim, H. Copper-zinc imbalance induces kidney tubule damage and oxidative stress in a population exposed to chronic environmental cadmium. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health 2020, 93, 337–344. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Gibson, R.S.; Hess, S.Y.; Hotz, C.; Brown, K.H. Indicators of zinc status at the population level: A review of the evidence. Br. J. Nutr. 2008, 99, S14–S23. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS). Copper. Available online: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Copper-HealthProfessional/ (accessed on 9 December 2025).
- Billnitzer, A.; Jankovic, J. Current Management of Tics and Tourette Syndrome: Behavioral, Pharmacologic, and Surgical Treatments. Neurotherapeutics 2020, 17, 1681–1693. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Baizabal-Carvallo, J.F.; Joseph Jankovic, J. Chapter Six—The pharmacological treatment of Tourette syndrome. Int. Rev. Mov. Disord. 2022, 4, 163–201. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Deekae, A. Pharmacological management of Tourette syndrome. Pharm. J. 2025, 315, 7999. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Seideman, M.F.; Seideman, T.A. A Review of the Current Treatment of Tourette Syndrome. J. Pediatr. Pharmacol. Ther. 2020, 25, 401–412. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Eddy, C.M.; Rickards, H.E.; Cavanna, A.E. Treatment strategies for tics in Tourette syndrome. Ther. Adv. Neurol. Disord. 2011, 4, 25–45. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Pringsheim, T.; Okun, M.S.; Müller-Vahl, K.; Martino, D.; Jankovic, J.; Cavanna, A.E.; Woods, D.W.; Robinson, M.; Jarvie, E.; Roessner, V.; et al. Practice guideline recommendations summary: Treatment of tics in people with Tourette syndrome and chronic tic disorders. Neurology 2019, 92, 896–906. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Barzyk, K.; Buczek, W.; Kurek, M.; Chrościńska-Krawczyk, M. Different treatment methods for tics and Tourette Syndrome. J. Pre-Clin. Clin. Res. 2025, 19, 29–35. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Berzosa-Gonzalez, I.; Martinez-Horta, S.; Pérez-Pérez, J.; Kulisevsky, J.; Pagonabarraga, J. Therapeutic Approach to Primary Tic Disorders and Associated Psychiatric Comorbidities. Brain Sci. 2024, 14, 1231. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]


| Study | Sample Size (TD/HC) | Design Type | Exposure Assessment | Vitamin D Deficiency Threshold | Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Level | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD | HC | p Value | |||||
| Wang et al., 2022 [19] | 2960/2665 TD (n = 2960, 2355 M, 560 F), HC (n = 2665, 1912 M, 753 F), aged 5–14 years. | Retrospective case–control | Serum 25(OH)D (nmol/L) | ≤37.5 nmol/L = deficient; 37.5–50 nmol/L = insufficient; ≥50 nmol/L = sufficient | 38.47 (23.56–58.89) nmol/L | 50.05 (34.47–65.80) nmol/L | p < 0.001 |
| Wang et al., 2024 [52] | 176/154 CTD (n = 176, 131 M, 45 F), HC (n = 154), median age of 9 years. | Case–control | Serum 25(OH)D (ng/mL) | <20 ng/mL = deficient; 21–29 ng/mL = insufficient; 30–90 ng/mL = optimal | 21.7 (16.6–27.8) ng/mL | 24.1 ng/mL (19.4–28.8) ng/mL | p = 0.01. |
| Li et al., 2017 [54] | 132/144 TD (n = 132, 108 M, 24 F), average age of 8.4 years. HC (n = 144, 117 M, 27 F), average age of 8.3 years. | Case–control | Serum 25(OH)D (ng/mL) | <10 ng/mL = deficient; 10–30 ng/mL = insufficient; ≥30 = optimal | 23 ± 9 ng/mL | 32 ± 8 ng/mL | p < 0.001 |
| Li et al., 2018 [55] | 179/189 TD (n = 179, 148 M, 31 F, mean age: 8.0 years. HC (n = 189, 35 F, 154 M, mean age: 8.1 years. | Case–control | Serum 25(OH)D (ng/mL) | <10 ng/mL = deficient; 10–30 ng/mL = insufficient; ≥30 = optimal | 22.9 ± 7.5 ng/mL | 28.9 ± 8.3 ng/mL | p < 0.001 |
| Study | Sample Size (TD/HC), Age | Design Type | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamin D | |||
| Wang et al., 2022 [19] | 2960/2665, 5–14 years | Retrospective case–control | Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D Levels were lower in the TD group (38.47 nmol/L) than in healthy control (50.05 nmol/L). |
| Wang et al., 2024 [52] | 176/154, 9 years | Case–control | Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D Levels were lower in the TD group (21.7 ng/mL) than in healthy control (24.1 ng/mL). |
| Li et al., 2017 [54] | 132/144, 8.4 years | Case–control | Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D Levels were lower in the TD group (23 ± 9 ng/mL) than in healthy control (32 ± 8 ng/mL). |
| Li et al., 2018 [55] | 179/189, 8.0 years | Case–control | Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D Levels were lower in the TD group (22.9 ng/mL) than in healthy control (28.9 ng/mL). |
| Mohamed et al., 2025 [61] | 83, 4–15 years | Randomized controlled trial | Participants received high-dose (5000 IU/day) and low-dose (1000 IU/day) Vit D supplementation over 3 months. At both dosages, participants showed increased 25(OH)D concentration and significantly reduced tic severity scores on the YGTSS. |
| Li et al., 2019 [62] | 36, 5 to 14 years | Participants who received Vit D supplementation (300 IU/kg/day; maximum 5000 IU/day) for 3 months showed symptom improvement. | |
| Vitamin B6 | |||
| Garcia-Lopez et al., 2009 [63] | 19/19, 7–14 years | Randomized controlled trial | Daily Vit B6 supplementation (2 mg/kg) reduced TS symptoms at 90 days. |
| Rizzo et al., 2022 [64] | 17/17, 4–17 years | Randomized trial | Individuals received B6 supplementation 2.8 mg/day for two months, and their mean YGTSS scores decreased from 20.35 (±5.8) to 11.5 (±6.1). |
| García-López et al., 2008 [65] | Children with TS, 7 to 14 years | Placebo treatment | Children received B6 supplementation, along with Mg. Total tics scores decreased from 26.7 (at 0 days) to 12.9 (at 90 days) and the total effect on the YGTSS was a reduction from 58.1 to 18.8. |
| Vitamin A | |||
| Wang et al., 2024 [52] | 176/154, 9 years | Case–control | Serum retinol levels were low in the CTD group. The CTD group had a mean serum retinol level of 1.09 μmol/L, while the control group had a mean serum retinol level of 1.23 μmol/L. |
| Wang et al., 2022 [56] | 198/50 | Lowest serum Vit A concentrations were observed in TS compared to CTD or TTD (p < 0.05). | |
| Hou et al., 2020 [66] | 245/63 | An inverse correlation was found between serum Vit A concentrations and tic severity (p < 0.01). | |
| Iron | |||
| Gorman et al., 2006 [67] | 41/32 | Comparative study | Mean serum iron was significantly lower in the TS group at 81.6 μg/dL than in the control group at 90.6 μg/dL, and this difference was statistically significant (t = 2.38, df = 72, p = 0.02). |
| Qian et al., 2019 [68] | 1204/1220 | Retrospective study | Those with TD had lower average whole blood iron levels (8.47 ± 0.86 mmol/L) than controls (8.80 ± 0.94 mmol/L). |
| Avrahami et al., 2017 [69] | 47/100, 3–8 years | Cross-sectional | Mean serum ferritin levels were 32% lower in children with TD than in controls. |
| Wang et al., 2022 [59] | 54/54 | Lower serum iron and ferritin levels were found in the TD group, alongside strong negative correlations between these measures and YGTSS scores. | |
| Ghosh et al., 2017 [70] | Children with TD (n = 57) | Iron-deficient children who received iron supplementation (n = 5) showed an improvement in tic severity scores from 2.70 to 1.90 upon 12 months, whereas those who did not receive supplementation (n = 7) saw an increase from 2.36 to 2.70. | |
| Mg | |||
| Garcia-Lopez et al., 2009 [63] | 19/19, 7–14 years | Randomized controlled trial | Daily Mg administration (0.5 mEq/kg) significantly reduced motor and phonic tics and improved overall impairment on the YGTSS. |
| Qian et al., 2019 [68] | 1204/1220 | Retrospective study | Children with TD had a mean Mg level of 1.58 ± 0.19 mmol/L, whereas controls had a mean Mg level of 1.57 ± 0.17 mmol/L (p = 0.318). |
| García-López et al., 2008 [65] | Children with TS, 7 to 14 years | Placebo treatment | Children received Mg supplementation, along with Vit B6. Total tics scores decreased from 26.7 (at 0 days) to 12.9 (at 90 days) and the total effect on the YGTSS was a reduction from 58.1 to 18.8. |
| Zn | |||
| Qian et al., 2019 [68] | 1204/1220 | Retrospective study | Zn levels were lower in children with TD (78.90 ± 11.50 μmol/L) than in controls (83.90 ± 12.10 μmol/L). |
| Luo et al., 2023 [71] | 161/178 | Lower serum Zn levels were reported among those with TD. | |
| Cu | |||
| Qian et al., 2019 [68] | 1204/1220 | Retrospective study | Cu levels were significantly lower in the TD group (17.80 ± 3.28 μmol/L) than in the control group (18.50 ± 3.54 μmol/L). |
| Age | Vitamin D | Vitamin A | Vitamin B6 | Magnesium | Iron | Zinc | Copper |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–6 months | 25 mcg (1000 IU) | 600 mcg | NPE | NPE | 40 mg | 4 mg | NPE |
| 7–12 months | 38 mcg (1500 IU) | 600 mcg | NPE | NPE | 40 mg | 5 mg | NPE |
| 1–3 years | 63 mcg (2500 IU) | 600 mcg | 30 mg | 65 mg | 40 mg | 7 mg | 1000 mcg |
| 4–8 years | 75 mcg (3000 IU) | 900 mcg | 40 mg | 110 mg | 40 mg | 12 mg | 3000 mcg |
| 9–13 years | 100 mcg (4000 IU) | 1700 mcg | 60 mg | 350 mg | 40 mg | 23 mg | 5000 mcg |
| 14–18 years | 100 mcg (4000 IU) | 2800 mcg | 80 mg | 350 mg | 45 mg | 34 mg | 8000 mcg |
| 19+ years | 100 mcg (4000 IU) | 3000 mcg | 100 mg | 350 mg | 45 mg | 40 mg | 10,000 mcg |
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content. |
© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.
Share and Cite
Madireddy, S.; Madireddy, S. Emerging Therapeutic Approaches for Tic Alleviation in Tourette Syndrome: The Role of Micronutrients. Neurol. Int. 2026, 18, 7. https://doi.org/10.3390/neurolint18010007
Madireddy S, Madireddy S. Emerging Therapeutic Approaches for Tic Alleviation in Tourette Syndrome: The Role of Micronutrients. Neurology International. 2026; 18(1):7. https://doi.org/10.3390/neurolint18010007
Chicago/Turabian StyleMadireddy, Samskruthi, and Sahithi Madireddy. 2026. "Emerging Therapeutic Approaches for Tic Alleviation in Tourette Syndrome: The Role of Micronutrients" Neurology International 18, no. 1: 7. https://doi.org/10.3390/neurolint18010007
APA StyleMadireddy, S., & Madireddy, S. (2026). Emerging Therapeutic Approaches for Tic Alleviation in Tourette Syndrome: The Role of Micronutrients. Neurology International, 18(1), 7. https://doi.org/10.3390/neurolint18010007

