The Use of Caffeine by People with Epilepsy: the Myths and the Evidence

Bauer, Prisca R.; Sander, Josemir W.

doi:10.1007/s11910-019-0948-5

Cited by 14 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 86 publications

(122 reference statements)

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“…Thus far, the role of caffeine in the control of epilepsy is unclear. Studies on animal models suggest that depending on the dose and length of caffeine intake, it may have both positive and negative effects on seizure control [ 45 , 46 ]. Moreover, caffeine may reduce the effectiveness of some anticonvulsant drugs, mainly topiramate [ 47 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Unfortunately, numerous studies have indicated that people with epilepsy are less physically active and less willing to participate in sports activities [ 72 ]. In general, fewer people with epilepsy perform physical activity at the recommended level [ 45 ]. Importantly, other studies have addressed the potentially beneficial role of physical activity in improving the cognitive function of patients with epilepsy [ 73 ] and quality of life [ 74 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dietary and lifestyle behavior in adults with epilepsy needs improvement: a case-control study from northeastern Poland

Szałwińska

Cyuńczyk

Kochanowicz

et al. 2021

Nutr J

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Background Several factors predispose individuals with epilepsy to chronic diseases. Among them, nutrition and lifestyle factors have not been sufficiently studied. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate patients with epilepsy in terms of diet, body composition and physical activity compared to healthy sex- and age-matched subjects to investigate whether there are risk factors for nutritional deficiencies and risk factors for the development of metabolic diseases. Methods The case-control study involved 60 epileptic male and female volunteers and 70 healthy controls matched according to age and sex. Medical information was collected during the study, and a detailed questionnaire regarding eating and lifestyle habits was conducted. Physical activity was evaluated using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Nutritional status was assessed by bioelectric impedance. Venous blood samples were taken for lipid and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) analyses. Results A tendency toward an increase in LDL cholesterol was found in the individuals with epilepsy. Significantly higher body fat and insignificantly higher visceral fat were found in epileptic men than in healthy men. In epileptic women, a tendency toward a lower lean body mass was found. Patients with epilepsy were more sedentary, consumed less cottage cheese, fruit, pulses, nuts and seeds, vitamin C and potassium, and consumed more sugar-sweetened soda, fat and sodium than healthy people. On a positive note, individuals with epilepsy consumed less coffee and alcoholic beverages. More than 80% of the epileptic volunteers had diets that were low in folic acid, vitamin D and calcium, but a similar tendency was observed in the healthy volunteers. A higher percentage of the patients with epilepsy had diets that were low in niacin, vitamin C and potassium than the control group (25% vs. 7, 50% vs. 31% and 73 vs. 56%, respectively). A significantly lower serum concentration of 25(OH)D3 was observed in epileptic individuals and was found to be positively modulated by physical activity. Conclusions The results indicate that several behavior-related habits, which may predispose epileptic people to cardiovascular disease, need to be improved. For this reason, patients with epilepsy should be provided with more comprehensive medical care, including advice on nutrition and physical activity.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dietary and lifestyle behavior in adults with epilepsy needs improvement: a case-control study from northeastern Poland

Szałwińska

Cyuńczyk

Kochanowicz

et al. 2021

Nutr J

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…So far, the role of caffeine in the control of epilepsy is unclear. Studies on animal models suggest that, depending on the dose and length of caffeine intake, it may have both positive and negative effects on seizure control [44,45]. Moreover, caffeine may reduce the effectiveness of some anticonvulsant drugs, mainly topiramate [46].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Unfortunately, numerous studies indicate that people with epilepsy are less physically active and less willing to participate in sports activities [72]. In general, fewer people with epilepsy show physical activity at the recommended level [44]. Importantly, other studies address the potentially bene cial role of physical activity in improving the cognitive function of patients with epilepsy [73] and quality of life [74].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dietary and Lifestyle Behavior in Adults With Epilepsy Needs Improvement: A Case-control Study From North-eastern Poland

Kulesza

Cyuńczyk

Kochanowicz

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background: Several factors predispose people with epilepsy to cardiovascular diseases. Among them nutrition and lifestyle have not been sufficiently studied. Methods. The study involved 60 epileptic male and female volunteers and 70 healthy controls, corresponding to age and gender. Medical information was collected during the study and a detailed questionnaire survey concerning eating and lifestyle habits was conducted. Physical activity was evaluated using International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Nutritional status was assessed by bioelectric impedance. Venous blood samples were taken for lipid and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) analyses. Results. A tendency to an increase in LDL cholesterol was found in epileptics. Significantly higher body fat and insignificantly higher visceral fat was found in epileptic men compared to healthy men. In epileptic women a tendency to lower lean body mass was found. Patients with epilepsy were more sedentary, had lower consumption of cottage cheese, fruit, pulses, nuts and seeds, vitamin C and potassium, and higher intake of sugar-sweetened soda, energy from fat and sodium compared to healthy people. As a positive point, epileptics consumed less coffee and alcoholic beverages. More than 80% of diets of epilepsy people were low in folic acid, vitamin D and calcium, but similar tendency was observed in the healthy people. The diets of patients with epilepsy were in a higher percentage poor in niacin, vitamin C and potassium compared to the control group, 25% to 7%, 50% to 31% and 73 to 56% respectively. A significantly lower serum concentration of 25(OH)D3 was observed in epileptic individuals, which in this group was found to be positively modulated by physical activity.Conclusions. The study indicates that several behavior-related habits, which may predispose epileptic people to cardiovascular disease, need to be improved. For this reason, patients with epilepsy should be provided with more comprehensive medical care, including advice on nutrition and physical activity.

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“…Some of these studies did not find a relation between exposure to chronic low-dose caffeine or withdrawal from it and seizures [22]. However, there are studies reporting decrease in the duration of convulsions in animals that received caffeine for several days in comparison to ones that received saline, in addition to studies reporting seizures triggered by a single-high caffeine dose [23]. In adult rats with genetic absence epilepsy, seizure activity decreased after an acute dose of caffeine, while chronic doses had no effect [24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Postnatal Caffeine Exposure on Absence Epilepsy and Comorbid Depression: Results of a Study in WAG/Rij Rats

et al. 2022

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The present study aims to investigate effect of early caffeine exposure on epileptogenesis and occurrence of absence seizures and comorbid depression in adulthood. For this purpose, Wistar Albino Glaxo from Rijswijk (WAG/Rij) rats were enrolled in a control and two experimental groups on the 7th day after the delivery. The rats in experimental groups received either 10 or 20 mg/kg caffeine subcutaneously while animals in control group had subcutaneous injections of 0.9% saline. The injections started at postnatal day 7 (PND7) and were continued each day for 5 days. At 6–7 months of age, electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings and behavioral recordings in the forced swimming test, sucrose consumption/preference test and locomotor activity test were carried out. At 6 months of age, 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg caffeine-treated WAG/Rij rats showed increased immobility latency and active swimming duration in forced swimming test when compared with the untreated controls. In addition, 20 mg/kg caffeine treatment decreased immobility time. In sucrose preference/consumption tests, WAG/Rij rats in 10 mg/kg caffeine group demonstrated higher sucrose consumption and preference compared to untreated controls. The rats treated with 20 mg/kg caffeine showed higher sucrose preference compared to control rats. The exploratory activity of rats in the 10 mg/kg caffeine-treated group was found to be higher than in the 20 mg/kg caffeine-treated and control groups in the locomotor activity test. At 7 months of age, caffeine-treated animals showed a decreased spike-wave discharge (SWD) number compared to the control animals. These results indicate that postnatal caffeine treatment may decrease the number of seizure and depression-like behaviors in WAG/Rij rats in later life. Caffeine blockade of adenosine receptors during the early developmental period may have beneficial effects in reducing seizure frequency and depression-like behaviors in WAG/Rij rat model.

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The Use of Caffeine by People with Epilepsy: the Myths and the Evidence

Cited by 14 publications

References 86 publications

Dietary and lifestyle behavior in adults with epilepsy needs improvement: a case-control study from northeastern Poland

Dietary and lifestyle behavior in adults with epilepsy needs improvement: a case-control study from northeastern Poland

Dietary and Lifestyle Behavior in Adults With Epilepsy Needs Improvement: A Case-control Study From North-eastern Poland

Effects of Postnatal Caffeine Exposure on Absence Epilepsy and Comorbid Depression: Results of a Study in WAG/Rij Rats

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