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. 1972 Jan 29;1(5795):297–299. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.5795.297

Folate Deficiency after Anticonvulsant Drugs: An Effect of Hepatic Enzyme Induction?

J D Maxwell, John Hunter, D A Stewart, Simon Ardeman, Roger Williams
PMCID: PMC1787173  PMID: 5008482

Abstract

Serum and red cell folate levels were reduced in 59% and 58% respectively of 75 children with epilepsy attending a residential school. The degree of folate deficiency was significantly related to increased hepatic microsomal enzyme activity, assessed from increased urinary excretion of D-glucaric acid and also correlated with the daily dose of anticonvulsant taken. Anticonvulsant drugs are known to have inducing properties, and since folate is required as a cofactor in drug hydroxylations it is suggested that folate depletion results from increased demand for the cofactor after induction of drug-metabolizing enzymes. As folate deficiency may ultimately limit drug metabolism this hypothesis would explain why blood phenytoin levels decrease and fit control may worsen after correction of folate deficiency in epileptic patients.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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