title: Addressing potential role of magnesium dyshomeostasis to improve treatment efficacy for epilepsy: A reexamination of the literature.
abstract: Magnesium (Mg(2+) ) is an abundant mineral in the body serving many biochemical functions. Magnesium supplementation has been shown to raise seizure threshold in animal and human studies, but the etiological contribution of magnesium deficiency to the onset and maintenance of epilepsy, as well as the degree to which it impacts antiepileptic drug efficacy, remains poorly understood. This may be due, at least in part, to the inherent limitations of commonly used serum levels as a measure of functional magnesium status, as well as insufficient data regarding relative bioavailabilities of various magnesium salts and chelates for use with humans. To date, 1 randomized clinical trial has been conducted assessing Mg(2+) supplementation in epilepsy, and findings yielded promising results. Yet a notable dearth in the literature remains, and more studies are needed. To better understand the potential role of magnesium deficiency as a causal factor in epilepsy, more convenient and accurate measurement methods should to be developed and employed in randomized, controlled trials of oral magnesium supplementation in epilepsy. Findings from such studies have the potential to facilitate far-reaching clinical and economic improvements in epilepsy treatment standards.
authors: Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurosciences, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA.|Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA.
authors: Katie E
authors: KE
authors: Osborn
authors: Center for Excellence in Aging and Brain Repair, Department of Neurosurgery & Brain Repair, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors: R Douglas
authors: RD
authors: Shytle
authors: Department of Neurology, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors: Alfred T
authors: AT
authors: Frontera
authors: Psychology Service, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, TX, USA.
authors: Jason R
authors: JR
authors: Soble
authors: Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurosciences, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA.|Center for Excellence in Aging and Brain Repair, Department of Neurosurgery & Brain Repair, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA.|Department of Neurology, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors: Mike R
authors: MR
authors: Schoenberg
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D055423:Diet, Ketogenic; D004339:Drug Compounding; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008275:Magnesium Deficiency / Q000150:complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D008274:Magnesium
keywords: electrolyte imbalance; epilepsy; epileptogenesis; ketogenic diet; magnesium; metal ion; seizure