Publication:

Study of association of vitamin D levels in children and adolescents on antiepileptics drug therapy

Background Epilepsy is a common non-communicable disease that affects both young and the elderly, with a cumulative lifetime incidence of 3%. Bone health may be impacted by prolonged AED use, and the study aims to investigate the relationships between long-term antiepileptic usage, vitamin D levels, and other outcomes.

Methods Comparative observational research was conducted on 60 children with 30 healthy controls and 30 cases of antiepileptic drug users. Low vitamin D levels were identified based on monotherapy versus polytherapy, treatment duration, and severity of seizure control. 25-hydroxyvitamin D separated from its binding protein during incubation and competed with labelled vitamin D. A wash cycle was used to remove unbound material and a flash chemiluminescent reaction was started. The statistical analysis was done using R software 3.2.2 with a power of 90% and an alpha error of 5%.

Results An observational comparative study found no significant relationship between vitamin D levels and antiepileptic drug therapy in children aged 4-16 years. Vitamin D levels in AED-treated children with well-controlled seizures and those with poorly controlled seizures were found to be statistically significant, with 77% of patients and none of the controls being vitamin D deficient.

Conclusions Vitamin D deficiency is linked to antiepileptic medication, length of antiepileptic therapy, and increased risk of vitamin D insufficiency. It is important for pediatric neurologists and paediatricians to pay attention to the vitamin D status of children with epilepsy.