Role of Minerals in Childhood Epilepsy

Abstract

Background: The cornerstone of brain activity is changes in membrane voltage caused by ion fluxes through voltage and transmitter-gated channels. Therefore, electrochemical gradients across the membrane determine the direction and driving force for ion flow, which in turn establishes synaptic transmission and signal propagation parameters.Numerous methods create ion concentration gradients and specialised transporter proteins are among them. However, ionic fluxes via channels can alter transmembrane gradients during times of increased brain activity, which is projected to have an impact on the characteristics of ongoing synaptic transmission. Both healthy and unhealthy brain processes involve activity-induced alterations to ion concentration gradients. Patients with epilepsy display a variety of altered trace elements, electrolytes, and free radical scavenging enzyme statuses. Minerals play an important role in regulating ion concentration gradients through their various biological actions. Objectives:This review would contribute in increasing understanding of the role of minerals in childhood epilepsy and the different mechanisms by which different types of minerals modulate seizures in children. Conclusion:The serum level of various trace elements and heavy metals influences the impact of epilepsy. In infantile epilepsy, high calcium concentrations in epileptic neurons remain elevated during both the acute damage and chronic epilepsy phases, and they play a role in the maintenance of spontaneous recurrent seizures.

Keywords

• epilepsy minerals ion channels heavy metals