Micronutrient characteristic in recurrent seizure in medicinecontrolled epileptic children with normal nutritional status.

Background: Recurrent seizure in epileptic children is correlated with future motoric disorders, behavior problems, and intellectual disabilities. Various factors are thought to modulate the risk of recurrent seizure, including micronutrient status such as calcium, 25-dehydroxycholecalciferol (25-(OH)D), and serum iron presented as hemoglobin level.

Aim: To analyze correlation between micronutrient characteristics of epileptic children and recurrence of seizure.

Methods: This cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted in the pediatric clinic of Dr. Soetomo hospital from September to October 2019. Epileptic children with long-term anti-epileptic drugs (AED) for over 6 months and ages ranging 2-18 years were included. Recurrent and non-recurrent group were compared. Age, family history of seizure, and duration of AED administration were noted. Peripheral serum level of hemoglobin, calcium, and 25-(OH)D was measured. The median 25-(OH) D level of both groups were corelated with recurrent seizure by using Spearman test (95% confidence interval).

Results: Thirty children were enrolled. Recurrent seizure was occurred in 19 children. There was significant correlation on hemoglobin and calcium, and 25-(OH)D level with the recurrence of seizure (p less then 0.05). Among all observed micronutrients, 25-(OH)D has the strongest correlation (r = 0.750). There was no significant correlation between recurrent seizure and both family history and AED administration duration.

Conclusion: Micronutrients status is correlated with prevalence of recurrent seizure. Level of 25-(OH)D is strongly correlated, whereas level of hemoglobin, and calcium have weak correlation with recurrent seizure in epileptic children.