Vitamins for Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures, triggered by unusual electrical activity in your brain. Treatment typically involves anti-epileptic medications such as divalproex sodium (Depakote) or carbamazepine (Tegretol). In addition, you may consider is taking certain vitamins. Consult the doctor treating you for epilepsy prior to beginning a vitamin regimen.

Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 is responsible for maintaining your central nervous system; specifically, it aids your brain and nervous system in functioning. According to epilepsy.com, a vitamin B6, or pyridoxine, deficiency has been associated with the occurrence of seizures in newborns and infants. This vitamin may be administered via IV to reduce the frequency or severity of seizures in this population. It can also be used to regulate seizures in older children, but its effectiveness has not been clearly demonstrated with this population.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D affects your cardiovascular and nervous systems. It is found in milk, eggs and a variety of fish such as tuna, sardines, salmon and cod. It is also produced in the body from exposure to sunlight. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in individuals who suffer from seizures was presented at the American Epilepsy Society 61st Annual Meeting in 2007. This may be due in part to anti-seizure medication because, according to the National Health Federation, some anti-seizure medications actually deplete Vitamin D.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps prevent the cells in your body from incurring damage as a result of free radicals. Research conducted by Dr. Paul Hwang, the director of the epilepsy program at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, found that although vitamin E had no direct "anti-epileptic action," it may protect brain cells from free radicals which are generated by seizures. Vitamin E may be an option for patients who tried anticonvulsant medications to control their seizures to no avail, but the impact of vitamin E, if any, can take up to three months to occur.

Magnesium

Magnesium is essential for proper functioning of your nervous system. In the December 1990 issue of the "Journal of Neurology," D. Nuytten et. al. found that magnesium depletion attributed to improper functioning of the brain, which may have led to the development of an epileptic seizure in one case study. Although magnesium depletion has a significant impact on the nervous system that might be related to epileptic seizures, the authors of this study also note that magnesium deficiency itself is rarely a cause of epilepsy.