Ketogenic Diet and Neuroinflammation: Implications for Neuroimmunometabolism and Therapeutic Approaches to Refractory Epilepsy.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to review the current evidence on the ketogenic diet's role in refractory epilepsy, focusing on its immunomodulatory effects and anticonvulsant mechanisms.
Results Summary
The study found that the ketogenic diet and its variants may modulate the immune system, particularly Th17/Treg homeostasis, and have anticonvulsant effects in refractory epilepsy. Ongoing clinical trials and current evidence suggest potential benefits in neuroinflammation and neuroimmunometabolism.
Population
Patients with refractory epilepsy (seizures unresponsive to standard antiseizure medications).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ketogenic diet and its variants | neutral | refractory epilepsy | - | - | considered an important medical nutrition therapy | #1 |
ketogenic diet and its variants | neutral | immune system | - | - | may have a potential modulation effect | #2 |
ketogenic diet and its variants | neutral | metabolism of immune cells | - | - | may have a potential modulation effect | #3 |
ketogenic diet | neutral | epilepsy | - | - | anticonvulsant mechanisms | #4 |
ketogenic diet | neutral | neuroinflammation | - | - | potential role | #5 |
ketogenic diet | neutral | neuroimmunometabolism | - | - | potential role | #6 |
ketogenic diet | neutral | Th17/Treg homeostasis | refractory epilepsy | - | immune modulation | #7 |
Refractory epilepsy, characterized by seizures that do not respond to standard antiseizure medications, remains a significant clinical challenge. The central role of the immune system on the occurrence of epileptic disorders has been long studied, but recent perspectives on immunometabolism and neuroinflammation are reshaping scientific knowledge. The ketogenic diet and its variants have been considered an important medical nutrition therapy for refractory epilepsy and may have a potential modulation effect on the immune system, specifically, on the metabolism of immune cells. In this comprehensive review, we gathered current evidence-based practice, ketogenic diet variants and interventional ongoing clinical trials addressing the role of the ketogenic diet in epilepsy. We also discussed in detail the ketogenic diet metabolism and its anticonvulsant mechanisms, and the potential role of this diet on neuroinflammation and neuroimmunometabolism, highlighting Th17/Treg homeostasis as one of the most interesting aspects of ketogenic diet immune modulation in refractory epilepsy, deserving consideration in future clinical trials.