Serum Zinc, Copper, Iron and Chromium Concentrations in Children with Epilepsy

In the journal, Epilepsy Research articles ahead of press, Drs. Wojciak and colleagues from the Departments of Human Nutrition and Hygiene, Clinical Psychology, Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation and Rheumatology at the Poznan University of Medical Sciences in Poland present an intriguing study on trace elements and their levels in children with epilepsy. The authors suggest that serum trace element concentrations in patients with epilepsy are known to be abnormal as documented in previous studies. These trace elements are important for healthy nervous systems and neuronal susceptibility to excitability. Many reports have suggested that these elements may play a role in the development of seizures.

To test this analysis, the authors conducted an evaluation whereby children with seizures were assessed for serum zinc, copper, iron and chromium concentrations. Twenty-three children with an initial diagnosis of epilepsy before beginning of treatment for seizures were compared to 25 healthy control children with gender and socioeconomic control. The study found that individuals with epilepsy had decreased levels of zinc and chromium in all patients. Yet iron levels were specifically lower in girls and an increased level in copper levels in all patients.

The distribution of these metals was significantly different in patients with epilepsy than those in the healthy controls. Although it is unclear what the ultimate meaning of these findings portend, it suggests that clinicians need to be paying more attention to trace metals in individuals with epilepsy in order to understand if these deficiencies have any relationship with epilepsy.