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Zinc Status and Febrile Seizures: Results from a Cross-sectional Study
Janani Arul1, Peter Prasanth Kumar Kommu1, Ananthanarayanan Kasinathan1
1Department of Pediatrics, Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, Puducherry, India.
Insights
Children under 5 with febrile seizures have significantly lower serum zinc levels compared to febrile children without seizures. This study highlights a potential link between zinc deficiency and febrile seizures in young children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Clinical Chemistry
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Febrile seizures are common in children under 5.
- Zinc is an essential trace element crucial for neurological function.
- Hypozincemia (low serum zinc) has been investigated for various pediatric conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare serum zinc levels in children under 5 with febrile seizures versus those without.
- To determine the association between zinc deficiency and febrile seizures.
- To investigate hypozincemia as a potential risk factor.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 40 children with febrile seizures and 40 age/sex-matched controls.
- Serum zinc levels measured using a spectrophotometer (Biolis 50i-Autoanalyzer).
- Statistical analysis included Mann-Whitney test and odds ratio calculation.
Main Results:
- Mean serum zinc was significantly lower in children with febrile seizures (83.8 ± 33.1 μg/dL) compared to controls (116.3 ± 30.3 μg/dL) (p=0.002).
- Hypozincemia (< 63 μg/dL) was observed in 30% of cases versus 5% of controls.
- An odds ratio of 8:1 indicated a strong association between zinc deficiency and febrile seizures.
Conclusions:
- Children experiencing febrile seizures exhibit significantly reduced serum zinc concentrations.
- Zinc deficiency may play a role in the pathophysiology of febrile seizures.
- Further research is warranted to explore zinc supplementation for febrile seizures.
Abstract:
Objective To estimate the serum zinc levels in children under the age of 5 years with febrile seizures and febrile children without seizures Materials and Methods In this cross-sectional study from 2017 to 2018, 40 children with febrile seizures (simple and complex) were taken as cases. Forty age- and sex-matched febrile children without convulsions were recruited as controls. Serum zinc estimates were analyzed using a spectrophotometer (Biolis 50i-Autoanalyzer). Statistical Analysis The demographic variables and serum zinc estimates were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test. The odds ratio was used to calculate the association of zinc deficiency in febrile seizures; 5% level of significance was considered. Results The mean serum concentrations of zinc in the cases and controls were 83.8 ± 33.1 μg/dL and 116.3 ± 30.3 μg/dL, respectively ( p = 0.002). Hypozincemia defined by "a serum zinc level of less than 63 μg/dL" was found in 12 (30%) cases and 2(5%) controls with an odds ratio of 8:1. Conclusion Children with febrile seizures had significantly reduced concentrations of zinc in the serum.
