Plasma Homocysteine Levels Among Epileptic Patients Normalized by Vitamin Supplementation-A Spectral and Clinical Follow up

Abstract

Homocysteine is a sulphur containing amino acid resulting from de-methylation of methionine, an essential amino acid derived from dietary proteins. It is metabolized through two pathways, remethylation and transsulfuration, which use as cofactors folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12. Hyperhomocysteinemia has been identified as a risk factor for cerebrovascular disease, dementia, impaired cognitive function and depression. Several drugs may interfere with metabolic pathways of homocysteine, leading to an alteration of plasma homocysteine levels. Hyperhomocysteinemia has been documented in epileptic patients after chronic treatment with antiepileptic drugs. For the present study five epileptic patients were selected. Before the initiation of vitamin supplements along with their regular medication, the FTIR spectra of the blood plasma was recorded and their homocysteine levels were clinically tested. They were orally administered a daily dosage of folic acid (5 mg), vitamin B12 (250 mcg) and vitamin B6 (25 mg) supplements for a period of two months. Efficacy of these vitamin supplements were analyzed both clinically and spectroscopically. The FTIR spectra were recorded at the end of the first and the second month and also the homocysteine levels were clinically tested. The absorption values of the specific modes of vibration pertaining to homocysteine of both pre and posttreatment spectra were noted and the percentage of efficacy of the multivitamins was calculated. The spectral and clinical investigation showed that the addition of these vitamins can markedly reduce the homocysteine levels in blood plasma.