Severe Vitamin D Deficiency as a Trigger for Metabolic Seizures in Infancy: A Case Series and a Comprehensive Review of the Literature.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Case series with accompanying narrative literature review
PubMed 42588081 · doi:10.3390/nu18152458
What was done
Authors described two male infants (aged 4 and 5 months) presenting with afebrile, non-infectious seizures at a tertiary pediatric emergency department. Diagnostic evaluations and treatment outcomes with oral calcium and vitamin D were documented. In addition, the authors conducted a narrative literature review of pediatric studies and case reports examining hypocalcemic seizures related to vitamin D deficiency, excluding subjects with congenital or endocrine causes of hypocalcemia.
What was found
Both infants had severe hypocalcemia and severe vitamin D deficiency resulting from a complete absence of maternal pregnancy and infant vitamin D supplementation. Both experienced complete symptom resolution and normalization of calcium levels after combined oral calcium and vitamin D therapy. The literature review synthesized 27 articles (14 studies and 13 case reports), finding that hypocalcemic seizures caused by vitamin D deficiency are more common in infants, typically linked to maternal deficiency, and more prevalent in developing countries. Exact numerical values for serum laboratory levels were not provided in the abstract.
Why it matters
It highlights severe nutritional vitamin D deficiency as a preventable cause of metabolic seizures in young infants, reinforcing the clinical necessity of adequate maternal and infant vitamin D supplementation.
Limits
The primary report is restricted to only two clinical cases alongside a narrative (non-systematic) review. Specific biochemical values, precise treatment doses, and quantitative pooled estimates were not provided in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports Severe vitamin D deficiency in infants can cause profound hypocalcemia resulting in afebrile convulsions.