Mandibular bone density and calcium content affected by long-term anticonvulsant treatment in rats.

OBJECTIVE Bone is perpetually absorbed and reformed, serving also to electrolyte homeostasis, mainly for calcium and phosphorus. Anticonvulsant medications are traditionally considered harmful to bone because of their interaction with the metabolism of vitamin D, due to hepatic enzyme induction. A study of the effect of anticonvulsant medications on mandibular bone quality was undertaken. MATERIALS AND METHODS 24 Wistar rats in three groups received diphenylhydantoin or diazepam or placebo intraperitoneally (i.p.). Absolute bone weight, bone to body weight ratio, specific bone weight, absolute calcium concentration, calcium to mandibular bone weight ratio and mineral element concentration were examined after animal sacrifice, three months later. From the results it may be concluded that diazepam and diphenylhydantoin administration affect the mandibular bone density and calcium content in terms of absolute weight and specific weight. Mandibular calcium concentration was affected only by diphenhylhydantoin treatment.