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Advanced Neurology Exercise modulated Vitamin D and HDL in epilepsy

endocrine, cardiovascular, and nervous systems. In recent but may also impair neurogenesis and cognitive functions
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years, growing attention has been directed toward the by disrupting critical metabolic processes in the brain.
neurological effects of exercise, particularly for its potential Vitamin D, a fat-soluble vitamin, is another important
anticonvulsant properties in individuals diagnosed with factor contributing to CNS function, with established
epilepsy. 2-4
roles in brain development and neuroprotection.
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This growing interest is supported by emerging Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with various
evidence suggesting that physical exercise can modulate neurological and psychiatric disorders, including multiple
neuronal excitability, reduce oxidative stress, and enhance sclerosis, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, autism
the brain’s resilience to seizures. spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, and cerebrovascular
The brain is one of the most cholesterol-rich organs in disease. 14,15 A well-documented correlation also exists
the human body, containing nearly 25% of the body’s total between antiepileptic drug use and decreased serum
cholesterol despite comprising only about 2% of the body’s Vitamin D levels, which might exacerbate bone fragility,
weight. This high cholesterol content is essential for the immune dysfunction, and neuronal vulnerability in
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brain’s structure and function. Lipids, especially cholesterol affected individuals. Consequently, patients undergoing
and phospholipids, play a critical role in the development antiepileptic therapy should be regularly monitored for
and maintenance of the central nervous system (CNS). Vitamin D levels and supplemented accordingly.
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They are necessary for various neural processes such as Adequate Vitamin D levels are essential not only for
myelination, synaptogenesis, signal transduction, and skeletal health but also for maintaining optimal nervous
neuronal membrane integrity maintenance. Disruptions in system function. Vitamin D contributes to neuroprotection
lipid metabolism within the CNS have been implicated in by exerting anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects,
the onset and progression of various neurological disorders, enhancing neuronal growth and survival, and modulating
including Alzheimer’s disease, ischemic stroke, traumatic neurotransmitter synthesis and release. It has been
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brain injury, and epileptic seizures. These metabolic suggested that Vitamin D may play a role in mitigating
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disruptions may impair neuronal function and contribute seizure-related neuronal damage and enhancing the brain’s
to neurodegeneration by affecting membrane fluidity, ability to recover following seizure attacks.
inflammatory responses, and synaptic transmission.
In this study, we investigated the potential role of
Furthermore, recent studies have revealed that during exercise in modulating lipid metabolism, specifically HDL
glutamate-induced excitotoxicity – a major pathological and LDL levels, and Vitamin D status as key mechanisms
mechanism in various CNS diseases – cholesterol synthesis underlying neuroprotective effects in chemical models of
and catabolism exhibit stage-specific dysregulation across epilepsy. By exploring these pathways, we aimed to better
the progression of neural injury. These alterations might understand how physical activity might contribute to CNS
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affect neuronal survival, plasticity, and the brain’s capacity resilience and recovery following epileptic seizures.
for repair, suggesting that lipid homeostasis is a crucial
factor in the brain’s response to injury or disease. 2. Methods
One potential mediator of neuroprotection is high- 2.1. Animals
density lipoprotein (HDL), which has emerged as an
important factor in brain health. The beneficial effects Male Wistar rats weighing between 250 – 300 g (Animal
of regular exercise, a balanced diet, weight control, and house of Iran University of Medical sciences, Iran) were
smoking cessation on brain function might be partly accommodated in the animal house of Iran University of
attributed to their role in modulating HDL levels. Medical Sciences within a controlled environment free of
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Individuals suffering from dyslipidemia, particularly those specific pathogens, with a 12-h light and dark cycle at a
with reduced HDL or elevated low-density lipoprotein temperature of 21 ± 2°C. The rats were acclimated for a week
(LDL) levels, appear to be at a higher risk of developing before the start of the study. All animal procedures were
neurodegenerative diseases. HDL has demonstrated conducted in accordance with the ethical guidelines approved
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multiple neuroprotective properties, including by the Research Ethics Committee of Iran University of
enhancement of synaptic maturation, support of synaptic Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (IR.IUMS.REC.1400.863). We
plasticity, an increase in hippocampal volume, and anti- divided the animals into four groups (n = 6 in each group):
inflammatory and antioxidant effects. In contrast, LDL (i) Sham: Rats were administered saline through
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has been shown to suppress the proliferation of adult intraperitoneal injections every other day for 4 weeks,
hippocampal neural precursor cells. This suggests that an without any exercise
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imbalance in lipoproteins not only affects vascular health (ii) Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ): Seizures were induced

Volume 4 Issue 3 (2025) 79 doi: 10.36922/an.8347