Article Trunk



The right nutrients for people with epilepsy

04.27.2009 · Posted in Health Articles

Certain nutritional deficiencies may be particularly associated with epilepsy, and, in people with a low seizure threshold, may make epilepsy worse. While true deficiencies are rare, it may well be that improving your diet generally will make you feel better.nnSome anti-epileptic drugs deplete nutrients, particularly folic acid and vitamin D. Supplements should be discussed with your doctor, as, depending on your drugs, you may need to check that what you are intending to take won’t unbalance your nutrient levels further.nnNutrient shortages which have been suggested as rarely implicated with seizures include the following.nnCalcium shortage (hypocalcaemia) though rare, has been identified as a metabolic disorder especially in newborns. Low calcium has also been associated with seizures in some medical studies, including ones which looked at coeliac disease (see below), which may cause calcium to be lost from the body, though this too is not common. The body does need calcium for the smooth running of the central nervous system, and lack of it has also been associated with premenstrual symptoms such as irritability, muscle cramps and fluid retention. The best sources of calcium are milk and dairy products, bony fish (i.e. sardines), seeds, nuts (especially almonds), dried figs, bread and dark green leafy vegetables. Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) deficiency is a recognized but rare source of seizures in newborns. Some research suggests it very rarely produces convulsions in adults, and possibly causes pre-seizure symptoms such as irritability, sensitivity to noise, and abnormal EEGs. It is probably best not to take B6 alone as it increases the need for other B vitamins, particularly B2 and pantothenic acid, so it may be best taken as vitamin B complex. Good sources of vitamin B6 include meat, whole grains and pulses. Folic acid deficiency is made worse by some anti-epileptic drugs, but it may be dangerous to supplement this on your own as it has been suggested that large doses of folic acid can make epilepsy worse. Eat folate-rich foods such as fruit, dark leafy vegetables, other veg such as broccoli, cereals, pulses and yeast extract. Vitamin Z), which helps the body absorb calcium, is found in most oily fish and some animal products, especially in cheese and fortified milks; and vitamin E, important for boosting oxygen flow round the body. Zinc is important for brain functioning and helps raise levels of taurine in the brain. It works best in combination with manganese. Magnesium shortage has also rarely been linked with seizures. Magnesium is found in wholemeal flour, millet, figs, meat, fish, nuts and pulses. Manganese – some research suggests that eating more manganese during pregnancy may help prevent seizures in the baby, though this is not completely proved.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.