The effects of ketogenic diet on beta-hydroxybutyrate, arachidonic acid, and oxidative stress in pediatric epilepsy.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate whether a ketogenic diet (KD) reduces oxidative stress by increasing Arachidonic Acid (ARA) and beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) as a potential mechanism for alleviating seizures in children with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE).
Results Summary
The study found that serum levels of ARA and BHB significantly increased after KD therapy, correlating with reduced oxidative stress markers (MDA and 8-OHdG) and a 61.76% responder rate (≥50% seizure reduction). BHB's role in reducing oxidative stress and seizures appeared more pronounced than ARA's.
Population
Forty children with refractory epilepsy (34 completed the study).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
3 months
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ketogenic diet (KD) therapy | decrease | seizure frequency | children with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) | more than 50% | more than a 50% reduction | #1 |
ketogenic diet (KD) therapy | increase | serum levels of Arachidonic acid (ARA) | children with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) | - | significantly increased | #2 |
ketogenic diet (KD) therapy | increase | serum levels of beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) | children with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) | - | significantly increased | #3 |
ketogenic diet (KD) therapy | decrease | serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) | children with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) | - | significantly higher before than after | #4 |
ketogenic diet (KD) therapy | decrease | serum levels of 8-hydroxyl-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) | children with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) | - | significantly higher before than after | #5 |
ketogenic diet (KD) therapy | increase | serum levels of beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) | responders (children with DRE) | - | higher in responders than non-responders | #6 |
ketogenic diet (KD) therapy | decrease | serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) | responders (children with DRE) | - | lower in responders than non-responders | #7 |
ketogenic diet (KD) | decrease | brain oxidative stress (OS) | - | - | might reduce | #8 |
ketogenic diet (KD) | increase | beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) | - | - | by increasing | #9 |
ketogenic diet (KD) | increase | Arachidonic acid (ARA) | - | - | by increasing | #10 |
beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) | decrease | oxidative stress (OS) | - | - | role in diminishing | #11 |
beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) | decrease | seizure | - | - | role in diminishing | #12 |
The exact mechanism of a ketogenic diet (KD) as a suitable alternative therapeutic approach for drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) in alleviating seizures is not yet fully understood. The present study aimed to evaluate the role of the KD in reducing oxidative stress (OS) by increasing the ketone body beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) and Arachidonic acid (ARA), an essential polyunsaturated fatty acid, as a possible mechanism in relieving seizure attacks in children with DRE. Forty children with refractory epilepsy were included in the present study. The serum levels of BHB, ARA, and OS markers, malondialdehyde (MDA), and 8-hydroxyl-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), were evaluated in children with DRE and compared before and after the three months of KD therapy. Thirty-four of 40 included children could complete the three-month KD therapy. Twenty-one (61.76%) patients had more than a 50% reduction in seizure frequency after the KD (responders). The remaining 13 children were considered non-responders to the diet. The serum levels of ARA and BHB significantly (p < 0.05) increased after the KD therapy. The serum levels of OS parameters MDA and 8-OHdG before the diet therapy were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those after the administration. The serum levels of BHB and MDA after the KD therapy in the responders were respectively higher and lower than those in the non-responders (p < 0.001). Ketogenic diet might reduce brain OS by increasing BHB and ARA. The role of BHB in diminishing OS and seizure might be more remarkable than ARA.