Comparison of Serum Selenium, Homocysteine, Zinc, and Vitamin D Levels in Febrile Children with and without Febrile Seizures: A Prospective Single-Center Study

Abstract

Objective: Febrile seizure is a complication that makes physicians and families uneasy when detected in children with a high fevers. This study aimed to compare children with febrile seizures and children without seizures in blood selenium, zinc, homocysteine, vitamin D, vitamin B12, and magnesium levels. Materials and Methods: The study group included sixty-one children between the ages of 1–5 who came to the pediatric emergency department with febrile seizure. The control group had 61 children with fever without seizure, who were compatible with the study group in age, sex, and elapsed time since the onset of fever. Blood samples were taken from the patients during their admission. Selenium, zinc, vitamin D, homocysteine, vitamin B12, and magnesium levels were measured, and the data of the two groups were compared. Additionally, patients in the study group had two subgroups, simple and complex febrile seizures, and their parameters were compared. Results: Selenium, zinc, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 levels were significantly lower in the study group than in the control group (p < 0.001), and there was no significant difference in homocysteine (p = 0.990) and magnesium levels (p = 0.787) between the two groups. Moreover, no significant difference was found between those with simple and complex febrile seizures in selenium, vitamin D, homocysteine, vitamin B12, and magnesium levels. Conclusions: Elevated levels of selenium, zinc, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 in the blood of children with fevers help to prevent febrile seizures.

A preliminary study on the association between prognostic nutritional index and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio with nutritional status and inflammation in febrile children's susceptibility to seizures

“…Bhat et al showed that vitamin D deficiency is associated significantly with simple FS, and their recurrence is negatively correlated with low 25OH vitamin D 15 . Çığrı et al proposed that high vitamin D and B12 levels prevent the development of FS in children 3 . Deficiency in vitamin B12 could potentially lower the threshold for seizures.…”

“…A total of 324 children's medical records were evaluated using a form: age, sex, body mass index (weight/height 2 ), tests [for hemoglobin, RDW, white blood cells, lymphocytes, neutrophils, platelet PLT counts, C-reactive protein (CRP), vitamin B12, D, ferritin, and albumin]. The PNI is calculated as 10 × serum albumin (g/L) +5 × lymphocyte (10 3 cells/μL), and NLR is calculated by dividing the percentage values of neutrophils and lymphocytes.…”

“…In opposition to the body of research concerning the correlation between malnutrition and other diseases, there is a scarcity of studies investigating the nutritional status of children with FS. Heightened levels of vitamin D and B12 in the serum of febrile children (FC) can serve as a prophylactic marker against FS 3 . Various studies have corroborated that iron deficiency is also a risk factor for FS 4 , 5 .…”