Ketogenic diet and other dietary treatments for epilepsy

Abstract

This review aimed to investigate the effect of a ketogenic diet on seizure control, cognition (e.g., learning, concentration and academic performance in children; learning, concentration and memory in adults) and behaviour. We also investigated the side effects of the diet and the number of participants who dropped out of the studies and the reasons for this. Search dateThis evidence is current to March 2015. Study characteristicsWe searched medical databases for randomised controlled trials (clinical studies where people are randomly put into one of two or more treatment groups) of adults or children with epilepsy where a ketogenic diet was compared with other treatments. We found seven randomised controlled trials, with 427 participants. The trials were between three and six months long. Key resultsThe short-term side effects of ketogenic diets included diarrhoea, constipation and vomiting. In the long term, heart heath could be affected.All studies reported participants dropping out, due to lack of improvement in seizures and poor tolerance of the diet.No studies reported upon the effect of ketogenic diets on cognition and behaviour.2 Ketogenic diet and other dietary treatments for epilepsy (Review)

Systematic Review of the Use of Ketones in the Management of Acute and Chronic Neurological Disorders

“…Most published research has investigated the role of ketogenesis in children for the management of refractory epilepsy [8,21]. Recent reviews have examined the use of ketogenic diets in the management of seizure disorders in adults [22][23][24].…”

“…The purpose of this systematic review is to examine the evidence for inducing ketogenesis in adult humans with neurological and neurosurgical disorders, both acute and chronic. We have excluded seizure disorders (other than status epilepticus) as this was recently reviewed by others [21].…”

Diettbehandling av epilepsi

“…A recently published Cochrane study concluded that at least 38 % of the children achieved a > 50 % reduction in seizures (14). Three randomised, controlled studies have been conducted of children with pharmacoresistant epilepsy, in which dietary therapy was compared to drug-based treatment.…”

“…Unwanted effects Constipation, vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss, reduced energy and hunger are the most common adverse effects reported in children during the first three months on a classic or modified ketogenic diet (14,15). With close follow-up and adjustments to the diet, these adverse effects are soon eliminated or reduced.…”

“…Rare cases of pneumonia, sepsis, acute pancreatitis, gallstones, kidney stones, status epilepticus, acidosis, fatty liver, dehydration, abdominal pain, tachycardia and hyperammonaemic encephalopathy have been reported (14).…”