Ketogenic diet in epileptic children: impact on lipoproteins and oxidative stress.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to review the adverse effects of the ketogenic diet (KD) on lipoproteins, lipid profile, and cardiometabolic risk, including potential oxidative modifications and antioxidant imbalances.
Results Summary
The study found that KD causes dyslipidemia in children and adolescents with refractory epilepsy, potentially promoting oxidative processes and altering lipoprotein size, though oxidative modifications in LDL were not described. The positive effects of KD on seizure control were noted, but these were associated with negative changes in lipid metabolism and possible oxidative imbalances.
Population
Children and adolescents with refractory epilepsy.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ketogenic diet (KD) | neutral | drug-refractory seizures | - | - | is an important therapy used in the control of | #1 |
Ketogenic diet (KD) | neutral | lipoproteins, lipid profile, and cardiometabolic risk | - | - | adverse effects on | #2 |
Ketogenic diet (KD) | increase | dyslipidemia | children and adolescents with refractory epilepsy | - | Dyslipidemia was recurrent in | #3 |
hypercholesterolemia | neutral | low-density lipoprotein particles | - | - | promotes structural modifications in | #4 |
structural modifications in LDL | increase | oxidative processes | - | - | possibly favor | #5 |
structural modifications in LDL | neutral | lipoproteins | - | - | contribute to changes in the size of | #6 |
Ketogenic diet (KD) | increase | health | children and adolescents with refractory epilepsy | - | positive effects on the health of | #7 |
Ketogenic diet (KD) | neutral | lipid metabolism | - | - | positive role is associated with significant and negative changes in | #8 |
positive effects of KD | neutral | oxidative reactions and unbalance of antioxidants | - | - | are possibly related to | #9 |
oxidative reactions and unbalance of antioxidants | increase | cardiometabolic risk | - | - | can contribute to an increased | #10 |
OBJECTIVES: Ketogenic diet (KD) is an important therapy used in the control of drug-refractory seizures. The major goal of this review is to update the knowledge about the adverse effects of KD on lipoproteins, lipid profile, and cardiometabolic risk. METHODS: Articles on the effect of the KD on plasma lipoproteins of children and adolescents with refractory epilepsy, which were published in the past 15 years and indexed in the PubMed and MedLine databases, were included. RESULTS: Dyslipidemia was recurrent in children, and adolescents treated with KD. Evidence suggests that hypercholesterolemia promotes structural modifications in low-density lipoprotein particles. Such modifications possibly favor oxidative processes and contribute to changes in the size of lipoproteins, particularly related to small and denser LDL. However, oxidative modifications in LDL of children on KD are not described in the literature. DISCUSSION: The positive effects of KD on the health of children and adolescents with refractory epilepsy are unquestionable. Conversely, this positive role is associated with significant and negative changes in lipid metabolism. Moreover, the positive effects are possibly related to oxidative reactions and unbalance of antioxidants that can contribute to an increased cardiometabolic risk. Therefore, this review invites clinicians and researchers to investigate the lipid and oxidative metabolism in their clinical practice and trials, respectively.