Level of Micronutrient [Zinc] and its Association with Seizures in Children: A Case Control Study

Brain consists of nerve cells that usually communicate with each other through electrical activity thus, controls and regulates all voluntary and involuntary responses in the body. When region(s) of brain receives a burst of abnormal electrical signals that temporarily interrupts normal electrical brain function a seizure occurs. Transient occurrence of signs and or symptoms resulting from abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain is defined as seizure. Febrile seizures are defined as the seizure that occurs between the age of 6 and 60 months with a temperature of 38 °C or higher that are not the result of CNS infections or any metabolic imbalance, and that occur in the absence of a history of prior afebrile seizures. Febrile seizure is either simple or complex. Febrile seizure that is primary generalized, usually tonic-clonic attack associated with fever, lasting for a maximum of 15 min, and not recurrent within a 24hrs period is simple and febrile seizure that is more prolonged i.e.> 15min, is focal, and or reoccurs within 24hrs is complex [1]. Many children who have febrile seizures have genetic conditions [1]. Various factors have been described in the pathophysiology of febrile seizures like infections (Bacterial and viral) [2], temperature Susceptibility of immature brain [3], interleukins, circulating toxins association [4], micronutrient deficiency and iron deficiency [5].

Role of micronutrients like copper, zinc, magnesium and selenium [6] have been described in association with febrile seizures. Micronutrients appear to play a vital role by their ability to modulate neurotransmission by acting on ion channels as well as coenzyme activity. Zinc-containing glutaminergic neuron-rich areas i.e. the hippocampus and amygdala [limbic system] and the zinc homeostasis in this area of brain may be associated with the etiology and manifestation of epileptic seizures [7]. Zinc homeostasis in the brain is important for prevention of seizure development because it can act either as proconvulsant [8] or anticonvulsant [9]. Neuron terminals glutamate concentration(10Mm) in was estimated to be much higher than extracellular fluid(<1Mm) and vesicular zinc concentration(300Mm) [10]. The degree and balance of inhibition–excitation, which is associated with the etiology and manifestation of seizures is varied by excessive excitation of zinc -containing glutaminergic neurons when released into the synaptic clefts. Inhibitory effect of zinc on N-Methyl-D aspartate receptorsis responsible for excitatory phenomenon after binding with glutamate. Thus, decreased Zinc levels may play a role in pathogenesis of febrile seizures [11].

Since most of the research on zinc association with seizures is on febrile seizures, our focus of research was to show its association with febrile seizures and seizures due to CNS infections like meningitis and encephalitis.

In this observational case-control study, total 150 children fulfilling the predefined inclusion criteria were studied during the period of 2 years, from May 2014 to May 2016 in Kurji Holy Family Hospital Patna Bihar. Ethical clearance was taken from hospital ethical team and proper consent was taken from parents/guardians of cases. Cases were divided into three equal groups.

A. 1.GROUPA 50 febrile seizures (Cases)

B. 2.GROUPB 50 (CNS infections)

C. 3.GROUPC 50 Fever without seizures (Control)

Children aged six months to five years with simple febrile seizures, complex febrile seizures, fever without seizures and seizure due to CNS infections (meningitis and encephalitis) were included in our study. Children having cerebral palsy, seizure disorder, chronic diseases, dysmorphic and syndromic features, children on zinc supplements and history of zinc supplementation in last 3 months, on anti-convulsant, acute and chronic diarrhea& past history of neonatal seizures and metabolic disorders and any clinical feature thought to be due to zinc deficiency were excluded.

2-3 ml of blood from venous site using sterile needle, within 24 hours of contact of patient in both the groups after taking all aseptic precautions. The sample was centrifuged for 3-4 minutes at 3,000- 4,000 rpm, serum thus obtain and preserved in sterile deionized vial. Estimation of serum zinc was done within 6 hours of collection. Method used was based on colorimetric test kits, reagent used was 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-(N-propyl-N-sulphopropylamino) phenol. Zinc forms a red chelate with it. Increase in the absorbance of wavelength 560nm can be measured and is proportional to concentration of the zinc. As per WHO recommendation the cut off value for hypozincemia has been taken as 65μgm/dl [12]. Hence 65μgm/dl was taken as cutoff for hypozincemia.

Statistical analysis

Statistical Analysis of data was done using SPSS version 20.0 for windows. Zinc level presented as mean and standard deviation, the difference in mean among the groups was assessed by use of oneway ANOVA and t-test to analyze inter Groupdifference. A p- value less than 0.05 was taken as statistically significant.

In our study as shown in Table 1. majority of the patients in all groups were of age Group< 2years and males predominated in present study with male female ratio of 2.9:1 (Table 2). Table 3 shows mean serum zinc level in GROUPA (febrile seizure) was 37.31±17.68μgm/dl with lowest and highest levels of 14.3μg/ dl and 98.2μg/dl respectively. Mean serum zinc levels in GROUPB (CNS infections) was 55.54±21.82μg/dl with lowest level of 17μg/ dl and highest 122μg/dl. The mean serum zinc level in control was 67.19±20.6).

Table 1: Age distribution

GROUP A = febrile seizure group, GROUP B= CNS infection group, GROUP C= Controls

Table 2: Gender distribution

GROUP A = febrile seizure group, GROUP B= CNS infection group, GROUP C= Controls

Table 3: Serum zinc level comparison between febrile seizures and control group

GROUP A = febrile seizure group, GROUP B= CNS infection group, GROUP C= Controls

Statistically significant difference was observed between mean serum zinc in GROUPA (febrile seizure group) and GROUPC (Control group) with standard error of 3.98, mean difference of 29.88 and p value < 0.001 and mean serum zinc level in GROUPB (CNS infection group) and GROUPC (control group) with the mean difference of 11.65, p value =0.011 and standard error of 3.98 (Table 4).

Table 4: Statistical figures when groups where compared.

The present study was under taken in this context to study the correlation of serum zinc level with Febrile seizures, CNS infections presenting with seizures in comparison with febrile children without seizures.

In our study most of the patients had purely biochemical hypozincemia because as stated in methodology, patients having any clinical feature of zinc deficiency were excluded from the study. More than three fourth of the patients were below 24 months with mean age of 22.14±15 months in febrile seizures (GROUPA), 24.26±17.2 months in CNS infections (GROUPB) and 21.16±16.77 months control (GROUPC). Mahyar et al. [13] reported similar observation, mean age 27.13±15.12 months in cases and 28.49±16.5 months control. Ganesh et al. [14] also reported mean age of 23.8 months in cases. Thus, this study shows febrile seizures are more common in age less than 24 months, as 40(80%) patients in febrile seizure Groupwas between 6-24 months.

Males predominated in present study with male female ratio of 2.9:1 in total 150 study population. In GROUPA (febrile seizures cases) 40 (80%) patient was male, in GROUPB (CNS infections) 37 (74%) were male and 35 (70%) in control (GROUPC) were male gender. Other studies were having gender ratio 1.4-1 as reported by Park JR et al. [15]. Thus, this indicates the male predominance in febrile seizures.

In the present study, mean serum zinc level in febrile seizure was 37.31±17.68μgm/dl and mean serum zinc level in control was 67.19±20.6. Thus, significant difference of 29.88μg/dl was observed in mean serum zinc level in cases as compared to controls with p value <0.001 and standard error 3.98. Similar findings have been reported by other researchers Ganesh R et al. [14], Okposio et al. [16], Mahyar et al. [13], Amiri et al. [6], Heydarian F et al. [17], Gattoo et al. [18].

In the present study mean serum zinc levels in GROUPB (CNS infections) of 55.54±21.82μg/dl was compared with mean serum zinc level in control Group(67.19±20.6μg/dl), the mean difference of 11.65, p value=0.011 and standard error of 3.98 which is also statistical significant. Low serum zinc levels have been observed in cases of pyogenic meningitis may be secondary to disease process or it may be primary hypozincemia leading to septic meningitis. The reasons are multifactorial. One is an adaptive response intended to deprive invading pathogens of zinc. Secondly, zinc may be utilized by the organisms for growth and multiplication. Latit kumar et al. [19] also reported low serum zinc in CNS infections (pyogenic meningitis) of 70.9816±59.39μg/dl and control Group120.0±37.79μg/dl with p<0.01 (Table 1-4).

Conclusion

Serum Zinc level in febrile seizures and seizures due CNS infections patients is low as compared to WHO normal level. Hypozincemia is risk factor for seizures (both febrile seizures and seizures due CNS infections). Thus, it appears that presence of hypozincemia in presence of other risk factors may enhance the occurrence of febrile seizures explaining a possible correlation between low serum zinc levels and febrile seizures. However, large randomized control trials are recommended to analyze this association and if proven, the possibility of prophylactic zinc supplementation in reducing the risk of febrile seizures in such patients

The authors are highly thankful to the hospital administration, the paramedical staff of the paediatric department, hospital statistician, and computer operators for helping in conducting this research.

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