Effect of the Treatment of Vitamin D Deficiency in Drug-resistant Epilepsy

Detailed Summary

Almost all patients with epilepsy living in the region of Paris have vitamin D deficiency, which is severe in 1/3 of the cases. The impact of this deficiency on epilepsy is unknown, despite the suggested benefits of vitamin D therapy including better seizure control and improvement of comorbidities (fatigue, anxiety, depression) in drug-resistant patients. Recommendations for vitamin D supplementation based on the serum level in the general population cannot be applied to patients with epilepsy due to interference of antiepileptic drugs in the vitamin D metabolism. Animal models, mechanisms of action studies and ecological information provide objective data for a direct antiepileptic effect of vitamin D. Human studies seem to confirm the antiepileptic effect of vitamin D but there are no controlled studies on large populations. The investigators aim to assess prospectively the effect of the treatment of vitamin D deficiency providing a high level of evidence. The investigators propose a multicentre placebo controlled randomized double-blind study, testing vitamin D supplementation against placebo in 400 drug-resistant patients to assess the short-term (3 months) and long-term (1 year) benefits on epilepsy. The investigators hypothesize that the treatment of vitamin D deficiency will result in significant reduction of seizure frequency, and improvement of comorbid symptoms as well as quality of life. The impact on the care of patients is important because better epilepsy control allows reduction of the antiepileptic drugs and side effects. This again is a key for the recovery of social and professional activities, and reduction of costs related to the disease.

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