Abnormal aluminium, cobalt, manganese, strontium and zinc concentrations in untreated epilepsy.

The concentration of 38 trace and bulk elements in the serum from 19 patients with recent onset of epilepsy and 20 age- and sex-matched controls was estimated by neutron activation analysis or inductively coupled plasma source by mass spectrometry. The concentrations of aluminium, strontium and zinc were significantly higher and the concentrations of cobalt and manganese were significantly lower than controls. Low concentrations of manganese and high concentrations of zinc in epilepsy have been previously reported but the abnormalities of aluminium, cobalt and strontium are new findings. The possible significance of these results in the pathogenesis of epilepsy is discussed.