Serum levels of zinc and copper in epileptic children during long-term therapy with anticonvulsants

Abstract

Objective:To evaluate the serum levels of zinc and copper in epileptic children during the long-term treatment of anticonvulsant drugs and correlate this with healthy subjects.Methods:A hospital-based group matched case-control study was conducted in the Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt between November 2013 and October 2014. Ninety patients aged 7.1±3.6 years were diagnosed with epilepsy by a neurologist. The control group was selected from healthy individuals and matched to the case group. Serum zinc and copper were measured by the calorimetric method using a colorimetric method kit.Results:The mean zinc level was 60.1±22.6 ug/dl in the cases, and 102.1±18 ug/dl in the controls (p<0.001). The mean copper level was 180.1±32.4 ug/dl in cases compared with 114.5±18.5 ug/dl in controls (p<0.001).Conclusion:Serum zinc levels in epileptic children under drug treatment are lower compared with healthy children. Also, serum copper levels in these patients are significantly higher than in healthy people. No significant difference in the levels of serum copper and zinc was observed in using one drug or multiple drugs in the treatment of epileptic patients.

Serum zinc and copper levels in a sample of Egyptian epileptic children

“…They showed significant lower zinc serum level in comparison to both controls and patients who received other antiepileptics. This goes in accordance with other study results [23,31]. However, other authors found normal serum zinc in epileptic patients after 1 year treatment with carbamazepine [28,32].…”

“…In the present study, we found that levels of serum zinc observed in pediatric epileptic patients were 30% lower than those of healthy controls (P < 0.001). Our results are in accordance with the previous studies, where significant lower levels of serum zinc have been reported in epileptic patients [21][22][23]. We found significant difference when we compared zinc serum level of newly diagnosed, controlled, and uncontrolled patients' groups on one side and zinc serum level of the control group on the other side with P < 0.05 for the three patients' groups.…”

Serum levels of zinc and copper in epileptic children during long-term therapy with anticonvulsants

“…Accordingly, the authors recommended measuring serum Zn level in epileptic patients on long-term anticonvulsant therapy and to give them Zn supplements if proved to be Zn deficient. Despite the limitations addressed by Talat et al1 in their study, we do agree with their recommendation and I support it with the following 4 points. 1.)…”

“…We have read with interest the study by Talat et al1 on the serum levels of zinc (Zn) and copper in epileptic children during long-term therapy with anticonvulsants. It is obvious that there is a mutual correlation between nutrition and neurological disorders.…”

“…Understanding the mechanisms that control brain Zn homeostasis is thus critical to the development of preventive and treatment strategies for these and other neurological disorders 3. Talat et al1 demonstrated in their study that the mean serum Zn levels in epileptic children under long-term therapy with anticonvulsants (60.1±22.6 ug/dl) were significantly lower compared with healthy children (102.1±18 ug/dl) ( p <0.001) 1. Accordingly, the authors recommended measuring serum Zn level in epileptic patients on long-term anticonvulsant therapy and to give them Zn supplements if proved to be Zn deficient.…”