Basic and clinical role of vitamins in epilepsy

Epilepsy is a brain disorder which affects about 50 million people worldwide. Good diet is an essential measure
to controlling seizure attacks. Since some combination therapy can reduce epileptogenesis, therefore this review summarizes the
available evidences about the application of vitamins in animal models and humans for understanding what specific combinations of
antiepileptic drugs and vitamins are likely to be effective for epilepsy therapy.
Material andmethods: In this review, electronic databases including PubMed and Google Scholar were searched for monotherapy and
polytherapy by vitamins.
Results: Administration of vit A inhibits development of seizures and lethality in animal models. Also vitamins B1, B6 and B12 pre-
treatment might lead to a protective effect against degenerative cellular in mice. In addition use of low dose of sodium valproate with
vitamins C or E increase the anticonvulsant activity of the drug in mice. Moreover, Vitamin D enhances antiepileptic effects of
lamotrigine, phenytoin and valproate in animal's models. Vitamin E has an anticonvulsant effect in ferrous chloride seizures, hyperbaric
oxygen seizures as well as penicillin-induced seizures in contrast kindling, maximal electroshock and kainite models. Some researches
demonstrated that vitamins D and B as adjunctive therapy in epileptic patient can relieve seizures. A clinical data have shown beneficial
effects of vitamin E in raising total antioxidant capacity, catalase, and glutathione in patients with uncontrolled epilepsy. Only few
clinical studies exist to support the efficacy of the vitamin A and K in epilepsy.
Conclusion: However vitamin therapy is not a substitute for antiepileptic drugs but add on therapy by them may relieve drugs- induced
deficiencies as well as more researches are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of vitamins in epileptic humans.