l-Tryptophan in hyperactive child syndrome associated with epilepsy: a controlled study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Pediatrics
• Clinical Pharmacology

Background:

• Childhood hyperkinesia is a complex behavioral disorder.
• Epilepsy in children can present with associated hyperkinetic symptoms.
• Limited research exists on the efficacy of amino acid supplementation for hyperkinesia in epileptic children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effect of L-tryptophan on hyperkinetic behavior in epileptic boys.
• To assess the safety and tolerability of L-tryptophan in this population.
• To monitor seizure frequency and antiepileptic drug levels during supplementation.

Main Methods:

• Double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study design.
• 11 epileptic boys (aged 7-14 years) with hyperactivity participated.
• L-tryptophan (40 mg/kg) or placebo administered for 5 weeks, followed by a 3-week washout.

Main Results:

• L-tryptophan was well-tolerated with no significant alteration in seizure frequency.
• No significant beneficial effect on hyperkinetic behavior was observed.
• Concomitant antiepileptic drug levels remained stable.

Conclusions:

• L-tryptophan supplementation at the tested dosage is safe for epileptic children with hyperactivity.
• The study did not demonstrate a significant behavioral benefit of L-tryptophan in this cohort.
• Further research may be needed to explore other therapeutic interventions for hyperkinesia in epileptic children.