Trace elements are the micronutrients found throughout live animals that are essential for organ function and brain health. They keep mitochondria running smoothly, improve neurotransmission and aid with enzyme function. Deficiency or excess has been linked to multiple neurologic diseases including neurodegenerative diseases, behavior diseases and inflammation in humans and animal species. A recent study evaluated the levels of several trace elements in hair samples of dogs with epilepsy and compared them to dogs without seizures.
What Trace Elements were Abnormal?
In this study, by Rosendahl et al, there were 10 epileptic dogs without any treatment, 53 epileptic dogs currently undergoing treatment for epilepsy, and 42 control dogs (no seizure history).
Phosphorus: lower in epileptic dogs
Copper: Higher in epileptic dogs
Zinc: higher in epileptic dogs
Copper/zinc ratio: higher in epileptic dogs. Specifically, higher in dogs treated with phenobarbital, in one previous study. Studies have shown that copper homeostasis is an important preventative for some neurodegenerative diseases. More work needs to be done in veterinary species to determine if this holds true for our patients, too.
Selenium: higher in epileptic dogs
Arsenic: higher in epileptic dogs but also much higher in dogs receiving potassium bromide!
Some of these findings were significant, some were significant only when comparing control dogs with either treated, or untreated dogs, and others were significant for both subgroups of epileptic dogs.
This study is likely to be a stepping stone for either this group, or others, studying trace minerals and their relationship to seizures. It was important work to identify differences, but the clinical significance remains unknown. Treatment, or correction of these deficits or elevations of trace minerals has not been evaluated in epileptic dogs. Stay tuned!
Thanks for reading! I hope you have a great week and enjoy what I hope is our final push out of winter, into spring, weather.
Reference: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jvim.16698?campaign=wolearlyview