Vitamin D supplementation to prevent vitamin D deficiency for children with epilepsy: Randomized pragmatic trial protocol

• Published in: Medicine (Baltimore) Vol. 97; no. 40; p. e12734
• Main Authors: Khalifah, Reem Al, Hudairi, Abrar, Homyani, Doua Al, Hamad, Muddathir H, Bashiri, Fahad A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wolters Kluwer Health 01.10.2018
• Subjects: Adolescent; Bone Density; Child; Cholecalciferol - therapeutic use; Clinical Protocols; Dietary Supplements; Epilepsy - blood; Epilepsy - complications; Female; Humans; Male; Nutritional Status; Parathyroid Hormone - blood; Study Protocol Clinical Trial; Treatment Outcome; Vitamin D - analogs & derivatives; Vitamin D - blood; Vitamin D Deficiency - prevention & control; Vitamins - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 0025-7974; 1536-5964
• DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000012734

Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent among children with epilepsy. Lack of high-quality evidence led to variability among scientific societies recommendations. Therefore, we aim to determine the efficacy of different common doses used in the pediatric practice to maintain optimal 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25 [OH] vitamin D) level in children with epilepsy and normal baseline 25 (OH) vitamin D level over 6 months of supplementation. This is a protocol for phase IV pragmatic randomized superiority controlled open-label trial at King Saud University Medical City in Riyadh. Children with epilepsy and receiving chronic antiepliptic medication and normal baseline 25 (OH) vitamin D level will be randomly assigned to receive Cholecalciferol 400 IU/day versus 1000 IU/day for 6 months. Our primary outcome is the proportion of children with vitamin D insufficiency (25 (OH) vitamin D level < 75nmol/L) at 6 months. Secondary outcomes include seizure treatment failure, seizure frequency, parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels, bone mineral density, and safety. Our trial is set out to evaluate the efficacy of common different vitamin D maintenance doses on 25 (OH) vitamin D level, seizure control, and bone health for children with epilepsy. The results of our study will possibly help in shaping current vitamin D guidelines for vitamin D supplementation in children with epilepsy and provide a link between 25 (OH) vitamin D level and seizure control.