Long-term use of antiepileptic drugs is a significant risk factor for vitamin D deficiency in children with epilepsy. A new Epilepsia study found that despite living in the tropics, a high proportion of Malaysian children with epilepsy are at risk of vitamin D deficiency.
Among 244 children, vitamin D deficiency was identified in 55 (22.5%) of patients, and a further 48 (19.7%) had vitamin D insufficiency. Children with multiple antiepileptic drugs, low sunshine exposure, Indian ethnicity, female sex, and age 12 years were more likely to be vitamin D deficient.