Vitamin B6 deficiency, with requirements greatly above normal (vitamin B6
"dependency") should be considered in any baby suffering from
seizures that are hard to control. Crowell GF et al: Pyridoxine-dependent
seizures. Am Fam Physician 27(3):183-7, 1983.
Compared with controls, 100 children with grand mal epilepsy had
significantly lower plasma levels of vitamin E. The investigators point out
that seizures can be prevented in experimental animals given vitamin E
supplements. Ogunmekan AO. Vitamin E deficiency and seizures in animals and
man. Can J Neurol Sci 6(1):43-5, 1979.
Compared with controls, epileptic children were found to have significantly
decreased plasma magnesium levels. The lower the magnesium, the more severe
the epilepsy. In contrast cerebrospinal fluid magnesium levels were high in
epileptics, and this was attributed to a functional impairment of cell
membranes. Benga I et al: Plasma and cerebrospinal fluid concentration of
magnesium in epileptic children. J Neurol Sci 67(1):29-34, 1985.
The clinical state of 4 epileptic children improved after anticonvulsant
medication was discontinued and selenium supplementation substituted.
Weber GF et al: Glutathione peroxidase deficiency and childhood seizures. Lancet
337(8755):1443-4, 1991.
31% of 72 epileptic patients taking the drug phenytoin were found to have
abnormally low vitamin B1 levels and 30% abnormally low folate levels. After
vitamin B1 supplements were administered for 6 months, neurophysiological
functions such as visuo-spatial analysis were improved. Botez MI et al: Thiamine
and folate treatment of chronic epileptic patients: a controlled study with the
Wechsler IQ scale. Epilepsy Res 16(2):157-63, 1993.
Of 45 children with epilepsy, recurrent headaches and other symptoms, 25
ceased to have seizures and other symptoms after following a low-allergy diet.
Most children reacted to several foods. Egger J et al: Oligoantigenic diet
treatment of children with epilepsy and migraine. J Pediatr 114(1):51-8, 1989.
10 of 12 epileptic children unresponsive to drugs and given 400 iu vitamin
per day in addition to medication experienced a significant reduction in
seizures compared with controls. Ogunmekan AO et al: A randomized, double-blind,
placebo-controlled, clinical trial of d-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), as
add-on therapy, for epilepsy in children. Epilepsia 30(1):84-9, 1980.
24 of 31 patients with epilepsy and cerebral calcifications were found by
intestinal biopsy to have undiagnosed coeliac disease (gluten allergy), although
they suffered no gastrointestinal symptoms. 5 of 12 patients with coeliac
disease and epilepsy were found on computerized tomography to have cerebral
calcifications. A gluten-free diet may beneficially affect the course of
epilepsy if provided early enough. Gobbi G et al: Coeliac disease, epilepsy, and
cerebral calcifications. The Italian Working Group on Coeliac Disease and
Epilepsy. Lancet 340(8817):439-43, 1992.
