Association of minerals and trace elements with idiopathic generalized epilepsy

• Published in: Indian journal of clinical biochemistry 2016-12, Vol.31 (S1), p.S15
• Main Authors: Satyanarayana, U, Prasad, D.K.V, Shaheen, Uzma, Prabha, T. Surya, Jyothy, A, Munshi, Anjana
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Brain tumors; Epilepsy; Health aspects; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Methyl aspartate; Neurons; Seizures (Medicine)
• ISSN: 0970-1915

Epilepsy is one of the most common heterogeneous neurological disorders characterized by spontaneous, recurrent and unprovoked seizures with prevalence of 4.57/1,000 world population. Multiple different health hazards can cause seizures for example brain tumors, either benign or malignant, brain trauma, autoimmune irregularities, infection, congenital lesion, neurological diseases such as stroke, and Alzheimer's. The rest of the cases are considered to be idiopathic, that is, with no evident cause other than a presumed genetic basis. Seizures may be generalized, involving both hemispheres of the brain simultaneously from the onset of seizure and can happen without warning, or partial (focal), in which the abnormal electrical discharges start in a localized area of the brain and restricted to one area of the brain. The symptoms/signs are dependent on the part of the brain that is affected. Idiopathic generalized epilepsies (IGEs) are common seizure disorders and characterize electro-clinical syndromes, in which a combination of clinical features such as seizure types, age of onset and electroencephalogram (EEG) features (generalized spike wave) are essential for diagnosis. The onset of seizures appears to occur when a small group of abnormal neurons undergo prolonged depolarization associated with the rapid firing of repeated action potentials whereas the exact pathogenesis of IGE is not fully understood. Studies have suggested that the body electrolytes, the levels of some trace elements and membrane lipid peroxidation, due to increased free radicals or decreased anti-oxidant defense mechanisms, may be involved in some forms of epilepsies and contribute to pathophysiology of neuronal excitability, neuronal excitotoxicity, seizure recurrence and resistance to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Certain minerals and trace elements are essential for the development of healthy nervous system. Altered homeostasis of some trace elements in the brain has been implicated in the susceptibility, development and termination of seizures in animal models of genetically determined epilepsy. Low levels of serum Zn can cause initiation of epileptic seizures via activating N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Copper in low dosage has been reported to produce seizures in animals via inhibiting Mg- ATPase and Na, K-ATPase enzymes. Magnesium is a potential modulator of seizure activity because of its ability to antagonize the excitatory calcium influx through N-methyl-D-aspartate r