Journal published article by Bonnie Grimaldi that helps to explain the basis for her formulation of ts-PLUS CONTROL:

Med Hypotheses 2002 Jan;58(1):47-60

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.

Grimaldi BL.

Pickerington, Ohio, USA

Prior studies have suggested a common etiology involved in Tourette's syndrome and several comorbid conditions and symptomatology. Reportedly, current medications used in Tourette's syndrome have intolerable side-effects or are ineffective for many patients. After thoroughly researching the literature, I hypothesize that magnesium deficiency may be the central precipitating event and common pathway for the subsequent biochemical effects on substance P, kynurenine, NMDA receptors, and vitamin B6 that may result in the symptomatology of Tourette's syndrome and several reported comorbid conditions. These comorbid conditions and symptomatology include allergy, asthma, autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, coprolalia, copropraxia, anxiety, depression, restless leg syndrome, migraine, self-injurious behavior, autoimmunity, rage, bruxism, seizure, heart arrhythmia, heightened sensitivity to sensory stimuli, and an exaggerated startle response. Common possible environmental and genetic factors are discussed, as well as biochemical mechanisms. Clinical studies to determine the medical efficacy for a comprehensive magnesium treatment option for Tourette's syndrome need to be conducted to make this relatively safe, low side-effect treatment option available to doctors and their patients. Copyright 2002 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.

PMID: 11863398 [PubMed - in process]

An open study evaluating the efficacy and security of magnesium and vitamin B(6) as a treatment of Tourette syndrome in children

Med Clin (Barc). 2008 Nov 22;131(18):689-91.

[Article in Spanish]

García-López R, Romero-González J, Perea-Milla E, Ruiz-García C,Rivas-Ruiz F, de Las Mulas Béjar M.

Departamento de Anestesia y Reanimación. Hospital Costa del Sol. Marbella. Málaga. España. drgarcia.anest@telefonica.net

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: We intended to ascertain the effectiveness and safety of oral solutions of magnesium and vitamin B(6) in alleviating the symptoms emerged during clinical exacerbations in children aged 7-14 years suffering from Tourette syndrome (TS). We also aimed to determine the mean and the standard deviation of such an improvement in order to estimate sample sizes in future assays with a control group.

PATIENTS AND METHOD: The treatment under investigation was administered to children diagnosed with TS, in accordance with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition -IV, under conditions of clinical exacerbation. The effects were scored on the Yale Global Tics Severity Scale (YGTSS) at 0, 15, 30, 60 and 90 days.

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

http://www.trialsjournal.com/content/10/1/16

Rafael Garcia-Lopez¹, Emilio Perea-Milla^2,3, Cesar Ruiz Garcia⁴, Francisco Rivas-Ruiz^2,3, Julio Romero-Gonzalez⁵, Jose L Moreno⁶ Vicente Faus⁶, Guadalupe del Castillo Aguas⁷ and Juan C Ramos Diaz⁸

¹ Department of Anaesthesia and Reanimation, Hospital Costa del Sol, Ctra Nacional 340, km 187, 29603 Marbella, Spain
² Research Support Unit, Hospital Costa del Sol, Ctra Nacional 340, km 187, 29603 Marbella, Spain
³ CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain
⁴ Department of Paediatrics, Hospital Costa del Sol, Ctra Nacional 340, km 187, 29603 Marbella, Spain
⁵ Department of Paediatrics, Children's and Maternal Hospital in Granada, Av. Fuerzas Armadas n° 2, 18014 Granada, Spain
⁶ Department of Pharmacy, Hospital Costa del Sol, Ctra Nacional 340, km 187, 29603 Marbella, Spain
⁷ CS La Carihuela, Torremolinos, Spain
⁸ Hospital de Antequera, Av. Poeta Muñoz Rojas, 29200, Antequera, Spain

Fish Oil for Tourette Syndrome

http://cme.medscape.com/viewarticle/464794

Gabbay V, Coffey B, Castellanos F, Alonso C. The efficacy of fish oil in children with Tourette's disorder. Program and abstracts of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 50th Annual Meeting; October 14-19, 2003; Miami, Florida. Abstract B35.

Along with autoimmune inflammatory dysregulation, serotonin dysfunction has been connected with Tourette syndrome (TS). According to the investigators, "fish-oil appears to act through both pro-serotonergic and anti-inflammatory effects. There are some children who have benefited from treatments of fish-oil." This study was done to evaluate the efficacy and safety of omega-3 fatty acids/fish oil in TS.

A 20-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was done using 40 children and adolescents. Subjects were between the ages of 6 and 17 years and met full DSM-IV criteria for a chronic motor tic disorder or TS. The study used a randomized, parallel-group and a flexible-dose titration design for administration of the omega-3 fatty acids.

This study is still in progress, but the primary outcome measures are reduction in tic symptoms and reduction of obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms. While this study has not yet been completed, the authors feel it is important to present preliminary findings due to the limitations of approved medications for TS in efficacy and associated adverse effects. "Development of alternative approaches is highly important."