Epilepsy and its therapies – older or modern – are both risk factors for low bone density, irrespective of vitamin D levels.
This is the finding of Dr G Farhat and colleagues in their cross-sectional evaluation of 71 patients.
Dr Farhat is based at the Calcium Metabolism and Osteoporosis Program, Department of Internal Medicine and Adult and Pediatric Epilepsy Program, Department of Pediatrics, American University of Beirut, Lebanon. The patients were on anticonvulsant therapy for at least six months.
The investigators found that over half the adults and children/adolescents had low serum 25 hydroxy-vitamin D levels, but this finding did not correlate with their bone mineral density. Antiepileptic agents clearly decreased bone mineral density in the adults. The researchers said, “Generalised seizures, duration of epilepsy, and polypharmacy were significant determinants of bone mineral density.” This was most obvious at skeletal sites enriched in cortical bone.
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