Serum level of sclerostin and vitamin D in children with epilepsy

Abstract

Epileptic children can pose an additional risk of poor bone health; this study aimed to evaluate the influence of anti-seizure medications (ASMs) on vitamin D level and sclerostin as a bone turnover biomarker in children with epilepsy. This case–control comparative study was conducted on 180 children aged from 5–18 years diagnosed with epilepsy according to the definition of the International League Against Epilepsy on ASMs for more than 3 months and were classified into 90 epileptic children on ASM monotherapy and 90 epileptic children on ASM polytherapy, in addition to 90 healthy children age- and sex-matched who served as controls. After obtaining basic data, laboratory investigations were performed, including serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone, vitamin D, and serum sclerostin. When we compared epileptic patients to the control group, there was a statistically significant low level of vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus and a high level of sclerostin among both epileptic groups with mono or polytherapy. Sclerostin has a statistically significant negative correlation with vitamin D, alkaline phosphatase and parathyroid hormone. Additionally, it has a negative correlation with serum phosphorus, but without a significant correlation. On the other hand, sclerostin has a statistically positive correlation with age and serum calcium, but without a significant correlation. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to predict the contributing factors of sclerostin. Only duration of treatment and BMI were significant predictors of high levels of sclerostin. In contrast, the other factors failed to show any significant contribution. The present study showed that ASMs modulate the serum levels of sclerostin and vitamin D hence, might be involved in their adverse effects on bone.