Vitamin D to Avoid Bone Loss from Anti Convulsant Drugs

[Guest guest]

 

---

Dr.Robert Rowen,MD in his newsletter Second Opinion of September 2007,

highlighted the increased risk of bone loss due to anti-convulsant drugs. Very

often this common side effect is not communicated to patients.

A study in 2006 published in Neurology 67(11):2005-14, evaluated the effects

of Vitamin D supplementation at doses of 400 Internationa Units (IU) and

4,000 IU. The abstract of this study follows:

_http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?orig_db=PubMed & db=PubMed & cmd=Search & te\

rm=Neurology%5BJour%5D%20AND%2067%

5Bvolume%5D%20AND%2011%5Bissue%5D%20AND%202005-14%5Bpage%5D%20AND%202006%5Bpda

t%5D_

(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?orig_db=PubMed & db=PubMed & cmd=Search & te\

rm=Neurology[Jour]%20AND%2067[volume]%20AND%2011[issue]%20AND%202005-1

4

 

---

%20AND%202006[pdat]) The researchers found that only at the higher

dose of 4,000 IU was bone mineral density increased at several sites.

If you are taking AED's, consider supplementing with Vitamin D, regardless

of your blood level.Dr.Rowen recommends 5,000 IU per day.

After reviewing the abstract(full text) is not freely avalable, I see there

was a 3rd group of children and adolescents given 2,000 IU of vitamin D and

Bone Mineral Density was signifacantly increased in Both groups receiving 400

and 2,000 IU. Since Vitamin D can accumulate in the system and reach a toxic

level, a modified dosage for children and adolescents, based on size should be

used.

Arnold

 

 

 

 

************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com