title: Association of serum trace elements and minerals with genetic generalized epilepsy and idiopathic intractable epilepsy.
abstract: Certain minerals and trace elements are essential for the development of healthy nervous system. Altered serum levels of these elements may lead to the development of various diseases including epilepsy. The present study was designed to evaluate the association of serum calcium, magnesium, zinc and copper in the development of genetic generalized epilepsy [GGE; erstwhile known as idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE)] as well as idiopathic intractable epilepsy (IIE), in which seizures persist despite treatment with at least two or three antiepileptic drugs tolerated at reasonable dosage. 200 GGE patients and equal number of healthy controls were recruited for study with their written informed consent. The patients were further divided into responders and non-responders based on their response to antiepileptic drugs. Copper and zinc levels were assayed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer whereas calcium and magnesium were analyzed by Human Star 600 fully automated biochemistry analyzer. The patients with GGE had significant low levels of calcium, magnesium and zinc (1.85 ± 0.33, 0.69 ± 0.13 mmol/L and 11.33 ± 3.32 µmol/L respectively) and the corresponding values for controls were 2.27 ± 0.22, 0.89 ± 0.15, 12.71 ± 3.24 (p < 0.05). Significant high levels of copper were found in patients as compared to controls (26.69 ± 8.79 µmol/L; 16.64 ± 3.64) (p < 0.05). Significantly decreased levels of zinc were noted in non-responders (10.38 ± 2.99) compared to responders (12.62 ± 3.30) (p < 0.05). No significant difference was observed in serum calcium, magnesium and copper levels between responders and non-responders. In conclusion, low levels of calcium, magnesium, zinc and high levels of copper were found to be associated with GGE. Further, the patients with IIE were also found to have low levels of zinc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Genetics and Hospital for Genetic Diseases, Hyderabad, India.
authors.forename: D K V
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.forename: Uzma
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Shaheen
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Satyanarayana
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Surya Prabha
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jyothy
authors.forename: Anjana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Munshi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008903:Minerals / Q000097:blood*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008903:Minerals; D014131:Trace Elements