The role of serum zinc and selenium levels in etiology of febrile seizures

Abstract

Background: Febrile seizures (FSs) are the most common form of childhood seizures. Determining the role of trace elements in the pathophysiology of FSs will contribute to the management of FSs by pediatricians.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects of zinc and selenium on the nervous system and how they may influence the risk of FSs.

Methods: In this case-control study, there were 60 children in the simple FS group and 40 children in the complex FS group. The control groups comprised 50 children with fever but without seizures and 50 healthy children. Blood samples were collected within the first hour after FS.

Results: Zinc and selenium levels were significantly lower in children with fever but without seizures versus healthy children (P<0.001). Serum zinc levels were lower in children with FSs (simple and complex FSs) than in healthy children (P<0.001) but higher than in children with fever but without seizures (P<0.001). Serum selenium levels in children with FSs (simple and complex) were lower than in healthy children but higher than in the children with fever but without seizures. However, these differences were not statistically significant (P>0.05).

Conclusion: Serum zinc levels are significantly decreased during infection, whereas they show a statistically significant increase within the first hour after FS activity. This indicates that the body secretes zinc during FSs to restore homeostasis, reduce oxidative stress, and increase the seizure threshold. Therefore, zinc supplementation during febrile periods may effectively prevent FSs in high-risk children.

Keywords: Febrile seizure; Selenium; Trace elements; Zinc.

Fig. 1.

Serum zinc levels by study group. Serum zinc levels in case groups (simple and complex febrile seizures) versus control groups (children with fever but without seizures, healthy). Data are presented as mean±standard deviation. ***P<0.001.

Fig. 2.

Serum selenium levels by study group. Serum selenium levels in case groups (simple and complex febrile seizure) and control groups (children with fever but without seizures, healthy). Data are presented as mean±standard deviation. ***P<0.001.

Fig. 3.

Power analysis of selenium level comparison. Results of the power analysis for selenium level comparisons across all group pairs are shown. The graph demonstrates how statistical power improves as sample sizes increase, highlighting the limitations of the current sample size for detecting small intergroup differences.