AIM: To investigate the relationship between the newly discovered adipocytokines and increasing body weight (paralleled by increased insulin resistance), and antiepileptic drug therapy with valproic acid (VPA). DESIGN AND METHODS: 44 children with idiopathic, generalized epilepsy treated with valproic acid (VPA), and 40 control group children were included in this study. RESULTS: Both the VPA-treated group and the control group showed no significant difference in terms of age, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. Subjects in the VPA group had significantly higher BMI-SDS than control subjects (2.3±0.15 vs -0.04±0.8, p<0.001). HOMA-IR, apelin and visfatin levels were significantly increased (4.95±2.07 vs 1.46 vs 0.6, p<0.001; 2.21±1.14 vs 0.57±0.15, p<0.001; 31±12 vs 18.4±10.4, p<0.001; respectively), and adiponectin levels were significantly lower in the VPA group (2.02±1.03 vs 12.4±6.1, p<0.001). Triglyceride levels were significantly increased (126±70 vs 80±40 mg/dL, p=0.001), and HDL-cholesterol levels were significantly lower in the VPA group. Vaspin levels were higher in the VPA group than the control group, but the difference was not significant. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of this study, apelin, visfatin and adiponectin levels may be considered as potential regulators of glucose and fat metabolism during valproic acid therapy.
AIM: To investigate the relationship between the newly discovered adipocytokines and increasing body weight (paralleled by increased insulin resistance), and antiepileptic drug therapy with valproic acid (VPA). DESIGN AND METHODS: 44 children with idiopathic, generalized epilepsy treated with valproic acid (VPA), and 40 control group children were included in this study. RESULTS: Both the VPA-treated group and the control group showed no significant difference in terms of age, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. Subjects in the VPA group had significantly higher BMI-SDS than control subjects (2.3±0.15 vs -0.04±0.8, p<0.001). HOMA-IR, apelin and visfatin levels were significantly increased (4.95±2.07 vs 1.46 vs 0.6, p<0.001; 2.21±1.14 vs 0.57±0.15, p<0.001; 31±12 vs 18.4±10.4, p<0.001; respectively), and adiponectin levels were significantly lower in the VPA group (2.02±1.03 vs 12.4±6.1, p<0.001). Triglyceride levels were significantly increased (126±70 vs 80±40 mg/dL, p=0.001), and HDL-cholesterol levels were significantly lower in the VPA group. Vaspin levels were higher in the VPA group than the control group, but the difference was not significant. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of this study, apelin, visfatin and adiponectin levels may be considered as potential regulators of glucose and fat metabolism during valproic acid therapy.