# Is Vitamin B6 a Precision Therapy for Neonatal Seizures?

## TL;DR

This review explores how vitamin B6 can be a targeted treatment for certain neonatal seizures, especially in cases linked to genetic or metabolic deficiencies.

## Contribution

The paper highlights vitamin B6 as a precision therapy for neonatal seizures tied to specific genetic and metabolic disorders.

## Key findings

- Vitamin B6 is crucial for neurotransmitter synthesis, and deficiencies can cause treatment-resistant neonatal seizures.
- Early vitamin B6 supplementation can provide diagnostic clarity and seizure control in suspected vitamin B6-dependent epilepsies.
- Genetic and metabolic screening could improve outcomes by enabling individualized treatment approaches.

## Abstract

Background: Neonatal seizures are critical neurological events with long-term implications for brain development. Standard antiseizure medications, such as phenobarbital, often yield suboptimal seizure control and may be associated with neurotoxicity. This narrative review explores the role of vitamin B6 as a precision therapy in neonatal seizure syndromes, particularly in pyridoxine-responsive conditions. Methods: We conducted a narrative review of the biochemical functions of vitamin B6, focusing on its active form, pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP), and its role as a coenzyme in neurotransmitter synthesis. We examined the genetic and metabolic disorders linked to vitamin B6 deficiency, such as mutations in pyridox(am)ine 5’-phosphate oxidase (PNPO), Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 7 Family Member A1 (ALDH7A1), alkaline locus phosphatase (ALPL), and cystathionine β-synthase (CBS), and discussed the clinical rationale for empirical administration in acute neonatal seizure settings. Results: Vitamin B6 is essential for the synthesis of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), dopamine, and serotonin, with PLP-dependent enzymes such as glutamic acid decarboxylase and aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase playing central roles. Deficiencies in PLP due to genetic mutations or metabolic disruptions can result in treatment-resistant neonatal seizures. Early supplementation, especially in suspected vitamin B6-dependent epilepsies, may provide both diagnostic clarity and seizure control, potentially reducing exposure to conventional antiseizure medications. Conclusions: Vitamin B6-responsive epilepsies highlight the clinical value of mechanism-based, individualized treatment approaches in neonatology. Incorporating genetic and metabolic screening into seizure management may improve outcomes and aligns with the principles of precision medicine.