Vitamin E Deficiency and Seizures in Animals and Man

Abstract

SummaryStudy of 100 children with grand mal convulsive disorders and 100 medically healthy children of matching age showed significantly lower plasma levels of vitamin E in the former (means 632.2 ± 17.3 and 822.5 ± 2\.Zßg/dl respectively; p < 0.001). This finding accords with the ability to prevent seizures in rodents by giving a-tocopherol before exposing them to a convulsion-inducing environment.

Isolated vitamin E deficiency with demyelinating neuropathy

“…The various neurological disorders associated with vitamin E deficiency are spinocerebellar degeneration,10, 11, 26 polyneuropathy,6, 15, 24 dysautonomia,3 myopathy,5, 23, 34 bulbar palsy,16 myoclonic dystonia,2 and seizures 22. Vitamin E deficiency has also been reported with Werdnig–Hoffmann disease30 and Bassen–Kornzweig syndrome 31.…”

Epilepsy in a patient with ataxia caused by vitamin E deficiency

“…Moderate neurophysiological findings and Babinski’s sign suggest that both central and peripheral nerve affection contribute to the distal muscle weakness. A study comparing 100 children with generalised seizures with 100 healthy controls revealed statistically significant lower serum values of vitamin E in the epilepsy group 16. On this background, we hypothesise a possible relationship between vitamin E and epilepsy in our patient.…”

“…Vitamin E deficiency have previously been associated with seizures 13 16. A 22-year-old man with a 6-year history of epilepsy who developed spinocerebellar ataxia and sensorimotor demyelinating neuropathy had low vitamin E values 13.…”

Effect of Vitamin E on Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability in Aged Rats with PTZ-Induced Convulsions

“…Vitamin E was shown to decrease the intensity of acute PTZ-sourced attacks in rats [20]. The levels of this vitamin in the blood plasma of children suffering from seizures were found to be lower than the respective values in control children of the same age [21]. Furthermore, an anti-attack effect of vitamin E was observed under experimental conditions, such as ferrous chloride model, hyperbaric oxygen model, kindling, and PTZ-evoked seizure activity [20,22,23].…”