Might disorders of calcium cause or contribute to myoclonic seizures?
Accepted for publication by Medical Hypotheses, November 17, 2005 Abstract: Epilepsy is not rare, yet since many epileptic conditions are considered to be idiopathic, the related seizures are usually considered to be of unknown origin. It does appear that different types of seizures are caused by differing mechanisms. This paper discusses scattered case reports involving problems with calcium, the thyroid, and/or the parathyroid glands concurrent with seizures that support the position that calcium control mechanisms may have been involved in causing seizures in those patients. This paper hypothesizes that calcium levels, which are controlled by various mechanisms in the body, can cause, or at least contribute to, myoclonic (jerk) seizures, as well as to possibly infantile spasms. As these conditions are difficult to treat medically, this paper suggests that nutritional interventions, such as supplemental calcium and vitamin D, might well be considered as an option as a first-line trea
