New adipocytokines (vaspin, apelin, visfatin, adiponectin) levels in children treated with valproic acid.

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.