A Study of Vitamin D Deficiency in Patients of Epilepsy on Anti-Epileptic Drug

Abstract

Medical literature has recently focused attention on the impact of vitamin D on various aspects of health. Besides its pivotal role in calcium homeostasis and bone mineral metabolism, it is now recognized to serve a wide range of fundamental biological functions. The association between vitamin D, antiepileptic drugs , and bone health in individuals with epilepsy has been recognized for more than 30 years . Seizures themselves pose a risk for injury, including fractures; and the added co-morbidity of poor bone health increase this risk, especially in children with who suffer from seizures with motor manifestations, as well as those with impaired motor function and coordination. Many AEDs are inducers of hepatic cytochrome P450 metabolism. It has been postulated that these AEDs result in increased hepatic metabolism of vitamin D, leading to low vitamin D levels. However, non-enzyme inducing AEDs have also been associated with low vitamin D levels and in turn with poor bone health. Therefore, although the newer AEDs are less-potent enzyme inducers than older AED, they are not necessarily inert in bone metabolism. Studies have reported variable changes in vitamin D levels in children taking AEDs. We aimed to describe the prevalence of and risk factors for vitamin D deficiency among children with epilepsy on antiepileptic drugs.