Hair Zinc content and its relation to Serum Zinc level in children with Idiopathic Epilepsy

Abstract

Abstract Objective to measure the level of hair zinc, as well as its level in serum, in patients with epilepsy and compare them to the levels found in non-epileptic age and gender matched children, and to explore any potential correlation between either serum or hair level of magnesium and seizure characteristics in children with idiopathic epilepsy. Methods An observational cross-sectional study including 50 children with idiopathic epilepsy and 100 non-epileptic age and gender matched control subjects. Cases were subjected to full history taking, examination and measurements of serum and hair levels of zinc, control subjects only had their serum and hair level of zinc measured as for the cases. Results The mean serum zinc was 1.13 (0.61 - 1.69) ug/ml for cases and 1.81 (0.75 - 3) ug/ml for controls and the median hair level of zinc was 116.58 ug/g with IQR of 74.97 - 176.58 for cases and 143.64 ug/g with IQR of 95.22 - 178.28 for controls. Serum zinc level was significantly lower in cases compared to controls, but the difference was not statistically significant for hair zinc. No statistically significant correlation was observed between either hair or serum levels of zinc and seizure characteristics. Conclusion Serum zinc levels are reduced in epileptic patients compared to healthy age and gender matched controls. Hair zinc levels do not seem to be affected in idiopathic epilepsy. Studies involving larger numbers of patients are needed to confirm these results.