Febrile Seizures – Can Vitamin C Act as Prophylactic Agent?

Abstract

Introduction: Febrile convulsions are defined as seizures in children between 6 months to 5 years of age, accompanied with fever, but without evidence of underlying CNS infection. The incidence is about 2-5% in the population. The exact pathogenesis is unknown involving various factors. Febrile seizures may be caused due to significant oxidative stress, and along with oxidant status changes. This results in cell damage subsequent to febrile seizures.The high rate of oxidative metabolism, coupled with the low antioxidant defense, makes the brain highly vulnerable to free radical damage. Aim: This study was done to evaluate the oxidative stress and antioxidant status in healthy children and children with febrile seizures. Materials and Methods: The children were divided into two groups – 1. Children without febrile seizures 2. Children with febrile seizures. Malondialdehyde and vitamin C levels were assessed in both groups (30 in each group). Result: Malondialdehyde was significantly increased (p < 0.01) in children with febrile seizures compared to the other group and Vitamin C was significantly decreased (p < 0.001) in febrile seizures children compared to the other children group. Conclusion: The antioxidants have the ability to reduce the febrile seizure manifestations and thus the accompanying biochemical changes like the markers of oxidative stress. This makes the antioxidants (vitamin C) role possible in controlling febrile seizure.

Keywords

• antioxidant
• malondialdehyde
• oxidative stress