Vitamins & Nutritional Supplements for Epilepsy

Vitamin E has been studied as a possible add-on to conventional drug treatment for epilepsy. A double-blind trial found that adding 400 IU per day of vitamin E reduced seizure frequency in children without side effects. Other preliminary trials have reported similar results, and, while some preliminary research suggested this effect might also be achieved in adults, a double-blind trial found no effect of vitamin E supplementation on adults with epilepsy.

Folic acid supplementation (5 mg per day) was reported to reduce epileptic seizure frequency, though the effect was not significantly better than with placebo. Folic acid supplementation of as little as 800 mcg per day has also been reported to interfere with the action of anticonvulsant medications, resulting in an increase in the frequency and/or severity of seizures; this effect occurs only in a small number of cases. People taking anticonvulsant medications should consult with the prescribing physician before deciding whether to use folic acid.

Vitamin B6 has been used to treat infants and small children who have seizures related to a genetic enzyme defect. However, this condition is not considered true epilepsy, and whether people with epilepsy would benefit from taking vitamin B6 supplements is unknown...