Ketogenic diet therapy for the treatment of pediatric epilepsy.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the historical use, effectiveness, and safety of the ketogenic diet as a therapy for treatment-resistant epilepsy, particularly in children and adults.
Results Summary
The ketogenic diet is effective in approximately half of children with treatment-resistant epilepsy, often showing results within months. It may allow for medication reduction or withdrawal and improve cognition and quality of life, though it requires supplements to mitigate side effects like constipation, kidney stones, and dyslipidemia.
Population
Children and adults with treatment-resistant epilepsy, including specific conditions like Glut1 deficiency and infantile epileptic spasms syndrome.
Effective Dosage
Not specified (five versions of ketogenic diet therapy mentioned, but no exact dosage details provided).
Duration
Typically 2 years before gradual discontinuation.
Interactions
Antiseizure medications (potential for reduction or withdrawal).
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
the classic ketogenic diet | decrease | epilepsy | children and adults | - | was created to treat | #1 |
ketogenic diet therapy | decrease | epilepsy | children | approximately half | is overall effective in | #2 |
ketogenic diet therapy | decrease | epilepsy | children with established indications | - | may potentially even be more advantageous than | #3 |
ketogenic diet therapy | decrease | medication reduction or withdrawal | some children | - | use may lead to | #4 |
ketogenic diet therapy | increase | cognition | some children | - | improvement in | #5 |
ketogenic diet therapy | increase | quality of life | some children | - | improvement in | #6 |
Supplements | decrease | common side effects | patients on ketogenic diet therapy | - | are begun to prevent | #7 |
ketogenic diet therapy | decrease | treatment duration | most children | after 2 years | is discontinued | #8 |
In 1921, the classic ketogenic diet was created at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota to treat epilepsy in children and adults. Over a century later, it is a widely used, standard-of-care therapy for typically treatment-resistant epilepsy worldwide. There are currently five versions of ketogenic diet therapy that can be started either in or out of the hospital setting. It is overall effective in approximately half of children started, usually within a few months. Established indications for ketogenic diet therapy exist, in which this treatment may potentially even be more advantageous than antiseizure medications. Some of these indications include Glut1 deficiency, pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency, infantile epileptic spasms syndrome, epilepsy with myoclonic-atonic seizures, and formula-fed children. Although most children are also receiving antiseizure medications with ketogenic diet therapy, its use may lead to medication reduction or withdrawal in some cases, and improvement in cognition and quality of life. Supplements are begun when ketogenic diet therapy is initiated in order to prevent common side effects, including constipation, kidney stones, growth disturbance, and dyslipidemia. Typically, after 2 years in most children, ketogenic diet therapy is discontinued gradually.