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Background: Alteration in the homeostasis of trace elements such as magnesium may play a role in the development of epileptic seizures. This study aims to investigate the levels of serum magnesium in people with idiopathic generalized epileptic (IGE) seizures and symptomatic seizures in Northeast Nigeria., Materials and Methods: Serum magnesium level was measured using atomic absorption spectrometry among 40 adults with IGE, 20 adults with symptomatic epileptic seizures, and 30 healthy controls. Serum calcium, potassium, phosphate, and albumin were also measured., Results: The mean serum magnesium level was significantly lower among people with epilepsy compared with the controls [0.79 ± 0.18 mmol/L vs 0.90 mmol/L ± 0.17, P = 0.007, 95% confidence interval (CI): (-0.189 to -0.031)]. People with IGE had significantly lower levels of magnesium compared with those with symptomatic seizures [0.74 ± 0.17 mmol/L vs 0.9 ± 0.16 mmol/L, P < 0.001 95% CI: (-0.251 to -0.069)]. The mean magnesium level for all groups was in the reference range, but the lowest levels were observed in those with IGE. There is no significant correlation between the level of serum magnesium and the severity of seizure attacks. There was significantly lower level of calcium in people with IGE compared with those with symptomatic seizures [2.3 ± 0.13 mmol/L vs 2.4 ± 0.16 mmol/L, P = 0.012, 95% CI: (-0.177 to 0.023)] or controls [2.3 ± 0.13 mmol/L vs 2.4 ± 0.12 mmol/L, P < 0.01, 95% CI: (-0.156 to -0.044)]. No significant differences were observed in the levels of potassium, phosphate, and albumin., Conclusion: This study suggests that low serum magnesium and calcium may play a role in IGE, and supplementation may be useful in reducing seizures in Black patients with epilepsy., Competing Interests: None

Serum tryptophan and erythrocyte Na+/K+ ATPase were determined in 14 epileptics with and without psychosis. The nature of the psychosis in four patients was non-specific. The amino acid and the enzyme levels were also estimated in 11 patients with a diagnosis of functional affective psychosis, 14 patients with schizophrenia, and 9 normal subjects. Comparison of data among the patients and the normal subjects were done using analysis of variance. There were no significant differences in tryptophan profiles and Na+/K+ ATPase levels in epileptics with or without psychosis. In addition, the data obtained for these parameters for the schizophrenics were homogenous to those of epileptics. Significant differences were, however, obtained between the epileptics and patients with affective illness. The data thus suggested that the non-specific psychosis presented by the epileptics may be schizophrenia-like and lend support to a specific psychosis associated with epilepsy.