Abstracts

The aims of this study were to describe vitamin D status including dietary intake in a contemporary cohort of children with intractable epilepsy prescribed newer anti-epileptic drugs (AED), and to determine the effects of the ketogenic diet (KD) on serum vitamin D status over 15 months., Prepubertal children 1-14 years with intractable epilepsy were eligible. Serum vitamin D (25-OHD and 1,25-OHD) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were obtained prior to initiation of KD therapy and every three months thereafter. Three-day weighed dietary records were obtained at baseline and one month on KD therapy, and included vitamin and mineral supplementation., 45 children with intractable epilepsy (age 5.1 [plusmn] 2.7 years) enrolled in the study. At baseline 4% had deficient and 51% had insufficient serum 25-OHD levels. Vitamin D intake was inadequate; 46% consuming less than the recommended intake. Adequate vitamin D intake, fewer AED and generalized seizures were associated with higher serum 25-OHD levels (p[lt]0.01). After 3 months on the KD, vitamin D status improved, 25-OHD levels increased (p[lt]0.001), and PTH declined (p[lt]0.001). Over the next 12 months of KD exposure, the 25-OHD levels steadily declined (p[lt]0.001), while 1,25-OHD and PTH were not significantly changed., Children with intractable epilepsy treated with newer AED had poor vitamin D intake and blood levels. KD therapy with vitamin D supplementation improved vitamin D status; however, over the next 12 months of KD therapy a decline in 25-OHD was observed.[figure1], (Supported by: Supported in part by RRK-23 16074 and General Clinical Research Center (MO1RR00240), the Nutrition Center of the Children[apos]s Hospital of Philadelphia, and the Catharine Brown Foundation.)