@article{3098991,
    title = "Effects of anticonvulsant therapy on vitamin D status in children:
Prospective monitoring study",
    author = "Nicolaidou, Polyxeni and Georgouli, Helen and Kotsalis, Haralambos and and Matsinos, Yiannis and Papadopoulou, Anna and Fretzayas, Andreas and and Syriopoulou, Vassiliki and Krikos, Xenophon and Karantana, Aglaia and and Karpathios, Themistoklis",
    journal = "Journal of Child Neurology",
    year = "2006",
    volume = "21",
    number = "3",
    pages = "205-209",
    publisher = "SAGE Publications Inc.",
    issn = "0883-0738, 1708-8828",
    doi = "10.2310/7010.2006.00050",
    abstract = "Reports of hypovitaminosis D associated with anticonvulsant drugs in
pediatric patients are conflicting. The effects of carbamazepine or
sodium valproate on vitamin D status were evaluated prospectively in 51
ambulatory epileptic children who were followed during the first year of
the study and in 25 and 6 children during the second and third year,
respectively. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, parathyroid hormone, calcium,
and phosphorus levels were determined before and every 3 months during
anticonvulsant therapy. Our subjects were grouped into four classes (0,
1, 2, and 3 consisted of the patients before and during the first,
second, and third years of the treatment, respectively). The control
group consisted of 80 healthy children. Comparisons between controls and
patients of class 0 for the means for each season of all variables
showed no significant differences. A decreasing trend in serum
25-hydroxyvitamin D (P < .03) and an increasing trend in serum
parathyroid hormone (P < .04) levels were noticed in all seasons from
class 0 to class 3. Twenty-five patients (49%) acquired hypovitaminosis
D during the study period. The effects of seasonality on serum
25-hydroxyvitamin D, parathyroid hormone, and calcium were noticed in
our patients grouped in classes 0, 2 and 3, as well as in controls.
Evidence is provided that carbamazepine or sodium valproate can cause
hypovitaminosis D in children."
}