Vitamin D Levels in Children Aged 1-12 Years on Anti Epileptic Drugs

Vitamin D is an essential nutrient which has pivotal role in calcium homeostasis. bone mineral metabolism and fundamental biological functions. Also vitamin D is known to have anti epileptogenic activity and hence its deficiency in children with seizure disorder is associated with difficulty in seizure control. It has been postulated that AEDs result in low vitamin D levels by varying mechanisms. Our study aims to find out the relation between AEDs and vitamin D levels. OBJECTIVES To estimate the levels of vitamin D in children on Antiepileptic drugs. To study the associated risk factors of vitamin D deficiency in children on Antiepileptic drugs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross sectional study done in 100 children aged 1-12 years on AEDs for >1 year. Vitamin D levels along with type of AEDs used were assessed. Vitamin D deficiency classified according to U S Endocrine society classification. RESULTS: Vitamin D deficiency was found in 74 %, 15% had insufficiency and 11 % had sufficiency. Patient on Monotherapy 84% and polytherapy 16 % although not associated with vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency associated with longer duration of anticonvulsant, shorter seizure free period, developmental delay, increased BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D deficiency was prevalent (74%) among our study subjects on antiepileptic drugs. It was observed that vitamin D deficiency was significantly associated with duration of antiepileptic, seizure free period, BMI and developmental delay. Vitamin D deficiency in our study was found in both enzyme inducing and non enzyme inducing antiepileptic drug usage.