The Role of Serum Vitamin and Mineral Levels in Benign Essential Blepharospasm: A Comparative Study

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to compare serum levels of folic acid, Vitamin B12, 25-hydroxy (OH) Vitamin D, calcium (Ca), zinc (Zn), phosphorus, and magnesium (Mg) between patients with benign essential blepharospasm (BEB) and healthy controls and to examine their associations with disease severity and frequency.
METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 20 patients with BEB (13 females, 7 males) and 25 healthy controls (15 females, 10 males) from our clinic. Serum levels of folic acid, Vitamin B12, 25-OH Vitamin D, Ca, phosphorus, Mg, and Zn, as well as ophthalmologic examination results, were analyzed. BEB severity and frequency were assessed using the Jankovic Rating Scale (0–4).
RESULTS: Serum levels of Vitamin B12, folic acid, Zn, Ca, phosphorus, and Mg were within normal limits for both groups. However, serum Vitamin D levels were below normal in both groups. No significant differences were found between the BEB and control groups regarding serum Vitamin B12, 25-OH Vitamin D, Ca, phosphorus, Mg, and Zn levels (p>0.05). Notably, serum folic acid levels were significantly lower in the BEB group compared to controls (6.19±2.75 vs. 8.95±4.10, p=0.011). In addition, a significant negative correlation was observed between serum folic acid levels and Jankovic severity (r=−0.378, p=0.011) and frequency scores (r=−0.392, p=0.008).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that folic acid may play a role in BEB pathogenesis. Further studies are needed to explore the underlying mechanisms and potential benefits of micronutrient supplementation in BEB management.