Vitamin D Levels in Children and Adolescents with Antiepileptic Drug Treatment.
10.3349/ymj.2014.55.2.417
- Author:
Jung Hyun BAEK
1
;
Young Ho SEO
;
Gun Ha KIM
;
Mi Kyung KIM
;
Baik Lin EUN
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. bleun@korea.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Vitamin D;
epilepsy;
anticonvulsants;
developmental disabilities;
intellectual disability
- MeSH:
Adolescent*;
Anticonvulsants;
Bone Diseases, Metabolic;
Child*;
Developmental Disabilities;
Epilepsy;
Female;
Hematologic Tests;
Humans;
Intellectual Disability;
Intelligence;
Methods;
Motor Activity;
Osteoporosis;
Seizures;
Valproic Acid;
Vitamin D Deficiency;
Vitamin D*;
Vitamins*
- From:Yonsei Medical Journal
2014;55(2):417-421
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: This study was to evaluate the relationship of 25(OH)D3 levels with anticonvulsant use and other possible factors in epileptic children and adolescents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 143 patients with epilepsy (90 boys, 53 girls; 11.21+/-4.49 years), who had been treated with anticonvulsants for more than 1 year. Patients who had taken multiple vitamins before the blood test and those who have the limitation of physical activity (wheelchair-bound) were excluded from the study. We evaluated the difference in vitamin D status according to the type and number of anticonvulsants taken and other factors such as gender, age, intelligence and seizure variables. RESULTS: For patients with mental retardation or developmental delay, 25(OH)D3 levels were lower than the levels in patients with normal intelligence quotient levels (p=0.03). 25(OH)D3 levels were lower in patients who had taken anticonvulsants for more than 2 years as compared to those who had taken them for less than 2 years (p=0.03). Those taking oxcarbazepine had significantly lower vitamin D levels than patients taking valproic acid (p=0.01). However, no effects of number of anticonvulsants taken were detectable. More than two-thirds of the patients were diagnosed with osteopenia or osteoporosis in patients showing either vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency. CONCLUSION: The possibility of vitamin D deficiency can be considered in pediatric patients taking anticonvulsants if they have mental retardation or developmental delay or if they have been taking anticonvulsants for more than 2 years or taking hepatic enzyme inducing drugs.
