Vitamin D and Bone Mass in Epilepsy Orlando FL

Epilepsy (also known as seizure disorder) is a neurological condition with symptoms which vary from a momentary lapse of attention to convulsions. What it is has been understood. What causes it is often not understood. Epilepsy was one of the first brain disorders to be described and its history goes back some 3000 years when it was first mentioned in Babylon. The word epilepsy is derived from the Greek word for "attack." It was once thought that people who had epilepsy were being visited by demons or gods. However in 400 B.C., the early physician Hippocrates suggested that epilepsy was a disorder of the brain.

The most commonly prescribed anti-seizure medications, including phenobarbital, phenytoin, and carbamazepine, inhibit the vitamin D metabolism.^1,2 In addition to depleting vitamin D levels, this also interferes with the body's ability to absorb calcium. Interference with vitamin D and calcium metabolism can cause the development of skeletal problems. Although these individuals are likely to be deficient in calcium, calcium supplementation is not warranted. The correct therapeutic intervention is to provide adequate levels of supplemental vitamin D, which will enable normalization of calcium absorption.

A recent study published in the journal Neurology, investigated the role of vitamin D supplementation on ambulatory patients currently taking anti-epileptic drugs (AED). This one-year study looked at two different dosages of vitamin D and their effects on bone density. Two trials were conducted, on 72 adults, and 78 children and adolescents. All participants were on long term AED treatments. These participants received either a low-dose of vitamin D (400 IU) or a high-dose (4000 IU for adults and 2000 IU for children) daily. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured as well. The results showed that BMD increased with the high-dosage vitamin D in adults after one year. In children, both dosages increased BMD.³