Vitamin D status of pediatric epilepsy patients and evaluation of affecting factors

Abstract Anti-seizure medication that is used in patients with epilepsy is one of the significant risk factors associated with abnormal vitamin D status in these patients. We aimed to identify risk factors related to hypovitaminosis D in pediatric patients treated with anti-seizure medications. Method. A cross-sectional retrospective cohort study was conducted on 127 pediatric epilepsy patients who received anti-seizure drugs from December 2021 to December 2022. Demographic data, seizure types, diet, physical activity, duration, and types of anti-seizure medications were analyzed. Results; Among the 127 patients in this study, 53% were male, and the mean age was 9,1 ± 4.6 years (range: 2–17). The mean serum 25(OH)D level at baseline in winter/autumn was 24.2 ± 14.2 ng/mL; 47.0% of the patients were 25(OH) D deficient, 23% 25(OH)D insufficient, and 30% had a vitamin D level within the normal range. Vitamin 25(OH) D level was 27,6 ± 12,2 in the epilepsy group with non-enzyme-induced anti-seizure drugs, 21,76 ± 19,7 in enzyme-induced anti-seizure drugs, and 13,96 ± 7,9 in the group with combined anti- seizures drugs (p < 0.001). Conclusion: : The number of anti seizures drugs, treatment with enzyme-induced anti-seizure drugs, long duration of epilepsy, abnormal magnetic resonance imaging, and etiology play an important role on vitamine D level