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Vitamin D in epilepsy: vitamin D levels in epilepsy patients, patients on antiepileptic drug polytherapy and drug-resistant epilepsy sufferers

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 70, pages 140–142 (2016)Cite this article

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess vitamin D levels in epileptic patients and to compare its serum levels in patients on antiepileptic monotherapy and polytherapy. We analyzed the serum 25-hydroxy (25-OH) vitamin D levels in 98 consecutive subjects (43 epileptic patients and 55 non-epileptics). Factors influencing its serum levels such as degree of sun exposure, physical activity and dietary intake were taken into consideration. Overall, 41% had deficient, 49% had insufficient and 9% had sufficient levels of serum vitamin D. Elderly individuals (>60 years) and people employed in offices and schools had lower blood vitamin D levels. Across both the sexes, epileptic patients and non-epileptics, epileptic patients on monotherapy and polytherapy and patients with drug-responsive and -resistant seizures, there were no significant differences in serum 25-OH vitamin D levels. Our study shows that people with epilepsy suffer with vitamin D deficiency along with their normal peers.

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Acknowledgements

We are indebted to Dr P Mohan Rao, HOD of Internal Medicine, Guntur Medical College and Dr G Ramakrishna, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Guntur Medical College for internal peer review and Dr Chandana, Senior Resident in Neurology, Guntur Medical College for content review.

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  1. S Nagarjunakonda and S Amalakanti: These authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Guntur Medical College, Government General Hospital, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India

    S Nagarjunakonda, S Amalakanti, V Uppala, L Rajanala & S Athina

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  1. S Nagarjunakonda
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  2. S Amalakanti
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Correspondence to S Amalakanti.

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Supplementary Information accompanies this paper on European Journal of Clinical Nutrition website

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Nagarjunakonda, S., Amalakanti, S., Uppala, V. et al. Vitamin D in epilepsy: vitamin D levels in epilepsy patients, patients on antiepileptic drug polytherapy and drug-resistant epilepsy sufferers. Eur J Clin Nutr 70, 140–142 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2015.127

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