Shining a Light on Trace Elements: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Serum Concentrations in Febrile seizure

Hamid Abbasi; Sara Khoshdooz; Mohammad Mehdi Abbasi; Mohammadjavad Pasand; Ghazaleh Eslamian

doi:10.1007/s12011-024-04221-5

Shining a Light on Trace Elements: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Serum Concentrations in Febrile seizure

Biol Trace Elem Res. 2024 May 8. doi: 10.1007/s12011-024-04221-5. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Hamid Abbasi^{1

2}, Sara Khoshdooz³, Mohammad Mehdi Abbasi⁴, Mohammadjavad Pasand⁴, Ghazaleh Eslamian⁵

Affiliations

¹ Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
² Neurosciences Research Center (NSRC), Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
³ Faculty of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Science, Rasht, Iran.
⁴ Student Research Committee, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
⁵ Department of Cellular and Molecular Nutrition, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Technology, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, No 7, Hafezi St., Farahzadi Blvd., P.O.Box: 19395-4741, Tehran, 1981619573, Iran. gh.eslamian@sbmu.ac.ir.

PMID: 38720018
DOI: 10.1007/s12011-024-04221-5

Abstract

Febrile seizures (FS) are a common occurrence in pediatric patients and are typically triggered by high fevers above 100.4°F (38°C), often associated with viral or bacterial infections such as respiratory or gastrointestinal infections. Recent research suggests that the serum concentration of trace elements may play a role in the occurrence of FS. This study aimed to assess the association between serum levels of trace elements and FS in pediatric patients. A comprehensive search of four databases, including Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar, was conducted up to February 2024. The study followed the PICO structure, focusing on the Population (pediatric patients with FS), Intervention (serum concentrations of selenium, zinc, magnesium, and copper), Comparison (with or without controls), and Outcome (occurrence of FS). The methodological quality of the included observational studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) tool. Out of a total of 168 papers, 37 met the inclusion criteria for this meta-analysis, covering studies published between 2018 and 2023. Lower serum zinc levels were observed in pediatric patients with FS compared to control groups (SMD: -1.25, 95% CI: -1.47, -1.03). Conversely, higher serum copper levels were found in control groups compared to those with FS (SMD: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.82). Additionally, lower serum magnesium levels were detected in the FS group compared to controls (SMD: -0.76, 95% CI: -1.57, 0.05), while serum selenium levels were approximately two times lower in the FS group than in controls (SMD: -2.23, 95% CI: -2.76, -1.70). Our meta-analysis suggests that pediatric patients with FS have lower serum concentrations of trace elements compared to controls. Further research is warranted to elucidate the potential role of trace elements in the pathogenesis of FS. This meta-analysis and systematic review was registered in the International prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO ID: CRD42024519163). Registry URL: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42024519163 registry number: CRD42024519163.

Keywords: Copper; Febrile seizure; Magnesium; Meta-analysis; Selenium; Zinc.

Publication types

Review