International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-78021012019012320087802ENDepartment of Radiology, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, KashanDepartment of Radiology, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, KashanDepartment of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, KashanResearch Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, KashanDepartment of Radiology, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, KashanResearch Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan20190123<p><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Background</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">This study was conducted to assess the effects of folate supplementation on carotid intima‑media thickness (CIMT), biomarkers of inflammation, and oxidative stress in carbamazepine‑treated epileptic children. </span></p><p><strong></strong><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Methods</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">This randomized, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled<br />trial was carried out in 54 epileptic children aged 2–12 years old receiving carbamazepine monotherapy. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups to receive either 5 mg folate supplements or placebo (</span><span class="fontstyle3">n </span><span class="fontstyle2">= 27 in each group) for 12 weeks. </span></p><p><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Results</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">After the 12‑week intervention, compared with the placebo, folate supplementation resulted in a signifcant reduction in plasma homocysteine (Hcy) (changes from baseline - 2.1 ± 2.5 vs. +0.1 ± 0.4 </span><span class="fontstyle4">µ</span><span class="fontstyle2">mol/L, </span><span class="fontstyle3">P </span><span class="fontstyle2">&lt; 0.001), serum high‑sensitivity C‑reactive protein (hs‑CRP) (changes from baseline - 1.5 ± 3.5 vs. +0.4 ± 1.4 mg/L, </span><span class="fontstyle3">P </span><span class="fontstyle2">= 0.01), a signifcant increase in plasma nitric oxide (NO) (changes from baseline + 1.9 ± 5.8 vs.<br />-2.0 ± 6.4 </span><span class="fontstyle4">µ</span><span class="fontstyle2">mol/L, </span><span class="fontstyle3">P </span><span class="fontstyle2">= 0.02), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) concentrations (changes from baseline + 88.6 ± 116.0 vs. +1.8 ± 77.4 mmol/L, </span><span class="fontstyle3">P </span><span class="fontstyle2">= 0.002). We did not observe any signifcant effects in mean levels of left and right CIMT, maximum levels of left and right CIMT, and total glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels following the supplementation of folate compared with the placebo.</span></p><p><strong></strong><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Conclusions</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">Overall, folate supplementation at a dosage of 5 mg/day for<br />12 weeks among epileptic children receiving carbamazepine had benefcial effects on Hcy, hs‑CRP, NO, and TAC levels, but did not affect CIMT, and GSH and MDA levels.<br /></span></p><p><span class="fontstyle0" style="color: #00652e;"><strong>Keywords</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle3">Carotid intima‑media thickness, epilepsy, folate, inflammation, oxidative stress</span></p>http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/1991http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/1991/717717811