Vorum H, Gram L, Honoré B
Institute of Medical Biochemistry, University of Aarhus, Denmark.
Epilepsy Res. 1993 Sep;16(1):55-64. doi: 10.1016/0920-1211(93)90040-e.
Binding of valproate and palmitate to serum albumin was studied in 29 valproate-treated epileptic patients. The results were compared with similar observations in a reference group of 43 non valproate-treated individuals. The binding affinity for palmitate was decreased (P < 0.0001) resulting in increased availability of long-chain fatty acids (P = 0.008) due to competitive valproate binding in the valproate-treated patients. The findings support a hypothesis on the pathogenesis of obesity as a complication of valproate treatment of epilepsy.
