EPILEPSY AND NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTATION INFORMATION
(I) Nutritional Influences on Epilepsy
(taken from "Nutritional Influences on Illness", by Melvin R.
Werbach, M.D., Assistant Clinical Professor of the School of
Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles California, 1996 -- 2 nd Edition, Third
Line Press)
(1) Folic Acid: Supplementation May be Beneficial
Warning: Administration of folic acid supplements to patients on
anticonvulsants can result in a marked fall in serum B-12 levels.
Therefore, use folic acid and vitamin B-12 concomitantly.
Warning: Administration of folic acid supplements may lower serum
barbiturate and anticonvulsant levels.
Noteworthy: Patients on Phenytoin (Dilantin) supplemented with oral
folate for a minimum of 1 year had a significant improvement in
seizure frequency, although those given placebo showed some
improvement as well.
(2) Niacin (Nicotinic Acid, Vitamin B-3)
Noteworthy: Supplementation may POTENTIATE the effects of
anticonvulsants. In one study, several patients were unable to
achieve good control with anticonvulsants as the required dosage made
them so drowsy and sluggish that they were unable to function
normally. They were supplemented with vitamin B-3 -- 1 gram, 3 times
daily. After they were on the supplement for several months, the
anticonvulsant dose could be slowly reduced while monitoring
carefully for an increase in seizure frequency.
(3) Thiamine (Vitamin B-1)
Noteworthy: Deficiency may be associated with seizures. Results of
some research suggest that thiamine deficiency may provoke epileptic
manifestations in patients who have a SUBCLINICAL predisposition to
seizures.
Noteworthy: blood levels of thiamine may be low due to, perhaps,
anticonvulsants.
(4) Pyridoxine (Vitamin B-6)
Noteworthy: Blood levels may be low -- perhaps due to
anticonvulsants.
Noteworthy: Pyridoxine binds to glutamate decarboxylase which
converts glutamic acid to the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA (gamma
amino butyric acid). Defective binding of pyridoxine may reduce GABA
levels which reduces the seizure threshold. Large doses of pyridoxine
compensates for the binding defect and should be considered in any
infant with hard to control seizures.
Noteworthy: Clinical deficiency is know to cause seizures in humans
and experimental animals.
Noteworthy: If deficient, supplementation may be beneficial.
(5) Vitamin D
Noteworthy: Anticonvulsant drugs interfere with vitamin D and calcium
metabolism in some manner not well understood; serum calcitriol
levels are normal, while calcifediol levels are depressed.
(6) Vitamin E
Noteworthy: Blood levels may be low -- perhaps due to
anticonvulsants.
Noteworthy: Patients may have increased peroxidation products in the
plasma which may be reduced with supplementation.
Noteworthy: Supplementation (200 IU 400 IU of ALL NATURAL vitamin
E: containing MIXED TOCOPHEROLS or, specifically, d-alpha, d-beta, d-
delta, and d-gamma tocopherols ) may reduce seizures.
(7) Calcium
Noteworthy: Serum calcium levels are rarely of value in the work-up
of adult patients. Seizures as the presenting symptom of HYPO-
calcemia occur primarily in neonates and RARELY in patients with
hypoparthyroidism, in whom other clinical signs (such as tetany) are
usually present.
Noteworthy: Anticonvulsant drugs interfere with calcium and Vitamin D
metabolism in some manner not well understood. Calcium levels are
depressed and rickets or osteomalacia may result.
Noteworthy: Intracellular calcium (Ca++) influx is essential for
neuronal excitability independent from synaptic function. In fact,
abnormal Ca++ metabolism may play a dominant role in both the
initiation and propagation of seizure discharge and calcium channel
blockers may represent a new therapeutic modality.
(8) Copper
Noteworthy: Deficiency may cause seizures.
Noteworthy: Serum levels may be ELEVATED, at least partly due to
anticonvulsants.
Noteworthy: It has been hypothesized that anticonvulsant drugs are
activated IN VIVO by forming copper complexes.
(9) Magnesium
Noteworthy: Hypomagnesemia may be associated with either grand mal or
multifocal seizures.
Noteworthy: Blood levels of epileptics may be reduced.
Noteworthy: Cerebrospinal magnesium levels may be INCREASED.
Noteworthy: IF deficient, supplementation may be beneficial.
Noteworthy: Supplementation may be beneficial despite lack of
evidence of deficiency.
(10) Manganese
Noteworthy: Supplementation may be beneficial.
(11) Potassium
Serum levels are INCREASED during seizures, while the cerebrospinal
fluid level usually remains normal.
(12) Selenium
Noteworthy: Supplementation may be beneficial for EARLY CHILDHOOD
SEIZURES.
(13) Zinc
Noteworthy: Serum levels may be reduced in epileptic children.
Noteworthy: The availability of EXCESS zinc, delivered either by
dietary supplementation or by injection, has been found to protect
against the development in seizures in at least three different
animal models of epilepsy.
Noteworthy: Anticonvulsants may cause zinc deficiency either by
reducing zinc absorption in the gut by chelation or by causing
diarrhea.
Noteworthy: Deficiency may cause seizures.
(14) Zinc to Copper Ratio
Since serum zinc is low and copper high in epileptics, seizures are
theorized to occur when the zinc/copper ratio falls suddenly in the
absence of adequate TAURINE.
(15) Choline: Warning Disagreement of Scholarly Opinion Here
View I: The Favorable View (Werbach's)
Supplementation may be beneficial in treating COMPLEX PARTIAL
SEIZURES
Experimental Study in 1980: Following 4 months of supplementation
with oral choline 12-16 grams per day, 3 patients with intractable
complex partial seizures had shorter seizure duration and less post-
seizure fatigue (but a slight increase in seizure frequency) and
considered themselves much improved. A fourth patient whose plasma
choline only increased 21% compared to 75% - 300% increases in the
other three patients failed to improve.
Dosage: Start with 4 gm daily and increase slowly to 12-16 gm daily
by third month.
View II: The Unfavorable View -- The Lecithin and Choline Connection
Supplementary LECITHIN requires a special note of caution. Many
people take lecithin either under a physician's guidance or from the
vitamin counter to eliminate fats and cholesterol from the body.
Lecithin is a natural substance that occurs in some plants and animal
tissues and in egg yolks. One of its components, CHOLINE, is SUSPECT
for people with seizures. In a 1983 study, a choline-supplemented
diet SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED SEIZURES. The researchers
concluded, "Our results suggest that supplementation of dietary
choline above NORMAL levels might result in increased susceptibility
to epileptic seizures. This could result from either a reduced
threshold for seizure or from an increase in the rate of seizure
development." This conclusion definitely suggests supplementary
lecithin WITH its choline component is NOT the treatment of choice
for people with seizures. (Taken from Epilepsy: A New Approach by
Adrienne Richard and Joel Reiter, M.D., Walker and Company, New York,
1995)
(16)Dimethyl Glycine: 100 mg twice daily.
Noteworthy: DMG is formed from betaine in the metabolism of
homocysteine to methionine and is a precursor of Glycine, a
neuroinhibitory amino acid.
Noteworthy: Supplementation may be beneficial.
(17) D.L-Glutamic Acid
Noteworthy: Brain tissue contains an enzyme which synthesizes
glutamine from L-glutamic acid and ammonia.
Noteworthy: Administration of D,L-Glutamic acid may reduce PETIT MAL
and PSYCHOMOTOR seizures.
Dosage: 4 grams, 3 times daily -- according to one study.
(18) Omega-6 Fatty Acids -- WARNING
WARNING: Supplementation may exacerbate TEMPORAL LOBE SEIZURES.
(19) Taurine: 500 mg 3 times Daily
Noteworthy: Taurine is a neuroinhibitory amino acid.
Noteworthy: Low brain taurine concentrations have been found at the
site of maximal seizure activity.
Noteworthy: Supplementation may reduce seizures.
(20) Aspartame WARNING
Using the artificial sweeter ASPARTAME with the antidepressant
IMIPRAMINE has been know to precipitate a grand mal seizure in one
woman . She did well after switching back to sugar.
(II) More on Epilepsy And Nutritional Supplementation
(taken from: "Epilepsy: A New Approach" by Adrienne Richard and Joel
Reiter, M.D., Walker and Company, New York, 1995)
(1) The following supplementary nutrients that have helped relieve
seizures for some people are:
(a) Manganese
(B) Vitamin B-6 (Pyridoxine)
© Taurine
(d) Dimethylglycine
(e) Calcium
(f) Vitamin E
(2) Recommended Daily Dosages
(a) Manganese: 50 - 100 mg orally at bedtime
(B) Vitamin B-6: 50 mg orally each morning
© Taurine: 500 mg a.m. and p.m.
(d) Dimethylglycine: 100 mg a.m. and p.m.
(III) Miscellaneous Information
(1) Sublingual supplements of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA
(Gamma Amino Butyric Acid) are now available at good health food
stores like "Whole Foods".
Noteworthy: Supplementation may be very helpful.
(2) Coenzymated B-Complex with Vitamin C now Available
Noteworthy: In order for B-Vitamins to be utilized by the body, they
must first be converted into their active coenzyme forms. Coenzymated
sublingual B-Complex (e.g., "Coenzymate B Complex" produced by Source
Naturals, Scotts Valley, CA 95066) goes directly into the bloodstream
in their active forms. This avoids the loss that may occur not only
during digestion but during the liver's conversion process as swell.
(3) Anticonvulsants, especially in large dosages, deplete the body of
vital vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other nutrients.