Healthnotes Newswire (March 29, 2007)—Osteoporosis is one known consequence of long-term antiseizure medicine use—but new research shows that vitamin D can help.
People with epilepsy often need to control their seizures with medications, but many of these medications have an important adverse side effect: they speed up bone breakdown and can cause bone loss and osteoporosis.
Vitamin D is made in the body through a chemical reaction that begins in sunlight-activated skin. Vitamin D increases calcium absorption through the digestive tract and reduces calcium loss in the urine. Because of vitamin D’s actions, more calcium can be deposited and kept in the bones.
