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Ascorbic acid and long-term anticonvulsant therapy in children
The British Journal of Nutrition
|May 1, 1975
Insights
Hospitalized children often have low vitamin C (ascorbic acid) levels. Long-term anticonvulsant therapy did not significantly impact these low vitamin C levels in a study of pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Clinical Biochemistry
Background:
- Hospitalized children represent a vulnerable population for nutritional deficiencies.
- Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is crucial for immune function and overall health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the leucocyte ascorbic acid status in long-term hospital patients.
- To investigate the effect of anticonvulsant therapy on vitamin C levels in pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- Investigated 48 children who were long-term hospital patients.
- Assessed leucocyte ascorbic acid levels.
- Compared vitamin C status between children on long-term anticonvulsant therapy and an untreated group.
Main Results:
- All subjects exhibited low ascorbic acid levels.
- Seventeen children had critically low levels (7.3-16.0 mug/10^8 white blood cells).
- Anticonvulsant therapy did not significantly lower ascorbic acid levels compared to untreated children without epilepsy.
Conclusions:
- Hospitalized children, particularly those on anticonvulsants, are at risk for vitamin C deficiency.
- Routine monitoring of ascorbic acid levels is recommended for pediatric hospital patients.
- Further research into the causes and management of vitamin C deficiency in this population is warranted.
Abstract:
1. Forty-eight children, who were long-term hospital patients, were investigated to assess their leucocyte ascorbic acid status. 2. Twenty-nine children had been receiving long-term anticonvulsants therapy, and these children did not have a significantly lower level of ascorbic acid than the untreated group, which did not have epilepsy. 3. The ascorbic levels of all subjects were low and seventeen had levels between 7-3 and 16-o mug/10-8 white blood cells.