Epilepsy
From The Nutritional Health Bible by Linda Lazarides (1997). This free database is provided for interest only. Linda's later writings refer to more up-to-date research.
Some causative factors- Allergy
- Coeliac disease
- Deficiencies of selenium, magnesium or vitamins E, B1, B6 or folic acid
- Pesticide poisoning.
Vitamin B6 deficiency, with requirements greatly above normal (vitamin B6 "dependency") should be considered in any baby suffering from seizures that are hard to control. Crowell GF et al: Pyridoxine-dependent seizures. Am Fam Physician 27(3):183-7, 1983.
Compared with controls, 100 children with grand mal epilepsy had significantly lower plasma levels of vitamin E. The investigators point out that seizures can be prevented in experimental animals given vitamin E supplements. Ogunmekan AO. Vitamin E deficiency and seizures in animals and man. Can J Neurol Sci 6(1):43-5, 1979.
Compared with controls, epileptic children were found to have significantly decreased plasma magnesium levels. The lower the magnesium, the more severe the epilepsy. In contrast cerebrospinal fluid magnesium levels were high in epileptics, and this was attributed to a functional impairment of cell membranes. Benga I et al: Plasma and cerebrospinal fluid concentration of magnesium in epileptic children. J Neurol Sci 67(1):29-34, 1985.
Promising nutritional researchThe clinical state of 4 epileptic children improved after anticonvulsant medication was discontinued and selenium supplementation substituted. Weber GF et al: Glutathione peroxidase deficiency and childhood seizures. Lancet 337(8755):1443-4, 1991.
31% of 72 epileptic patients taking the drug phenytoin were found to have abnormally low vitamin B1 levels and 30% abnormally low folate levels. After vitamin B1 supplements were administered for 6 months, neurophysiological functions such as visuo-spatial analysis were improved. Botez MI et al: Thiamine and folate treatment of chronic epileptic patients: a controlled study with the Wechsler IQ scale. Epilepsy Res 16(2):157-63, 1993.
Of 45 children with epilepsy, recurrent headaches and other symptoms, 25 ceased to have seizures and other symptoms after following a low-allergy diet. Most children reacted to several foods. Egger J et al: Oligoantigenic diet treatment of children with epilepsy and migraine. J Pediatr 114(1):51-8, 1989.
10 of 12 epileptic children unresponsive to drugs and given 400 iu vitamin per day in addition to medication experienced a significant reduction in seizures compared with controls. Ogunmekan AO et al: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial of d-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), as add-on therapy, for epilepsy in children. Epilepsia 30(1):84-9, 1980.
24 of 31 patients with epilepsy and cerebral calcifications were found by intestinal biopsy to have undiagnosed coeliac disease (gluten allergy), although they suffered no gastrointestinal symptoms. 5 of 12 patients with coeliac disease and epilepsy were found on computerized tomography to have cerebral calcifications. A gluten-free diet may beneficially affect the course of epilepsy if provided early enough. Gobbi G et al: Coeliac disease, epilepsy, and cerebral calcifications. The Italian Working Group on Coeliac Disease and Epilepsy. Lancet 340(8817):439-43, 1992.