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Clinical Efficacy and Safety of the Ketogenic Diet in Patients with Genetic Confirmation of Drug-Resistant Epilepsy.

Nutrients
March 11, 2025
Ji-Hoon Na et al. (3 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of the classic ketogenic diet (cKD) and its variants in patients with genetically confirmed drug-resistant epilepsy.

Results Summary

The study found that ketogenic diets induce metabolic shifts, enhance mitochondrial function, and modulate neurotransmitter balance, showing efficacy in genetic epilepsies like Dravet syndrome and Angelman syndrome. However, genetic factors influence safety, with contraindications for certain metabolic disorders.

Population

Patients with genetically confirmed drug-resistant epilepsy, including conditions like GLUT1DS, PDCD, Dravet syndrome, tuberous sclerosis complex, and Angelman syndrome.

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (11)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
classic ketogenic diet (cKD)
increase
metabolic shift from glucose to ketones
-
-
induce
#1
classic ketogenic diet (cKD)
increase
mitochondrial function
-
-
enhance
#2
classic ketogenic diet (cKD)
neutral
neurotransmitter balance
-
-
modulate
#3
classic ketogenic diet (cKD)
increase
anti-inflammatory effects
-
-
exert
#4
classic ketogenic diet (cKD)
neutral
efficacy and safety
patients with glucose transporter type 1 deficiency syndrome (GLUT1DS)
-
has absolute indications including
#5
classic ketogenic diet (cKD)
neutral
efficacy and safety
patients with pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency (PDCD)
-
has absolute indications including
#6
ketogenic diet (KD)
neutral
clinical utility
patients with genetic epilepsies, such as SCN1A-related Dravet syndrome
-
has preferred adjunctive applications including
#7
ketogenic diet (KD)
neutral
clinical utility
patients with TSC1/TSC2-related tuberous sclerosis complex
-
has preferred adjunctive applications including
#8
ketogenic diet (KD)
neutral
clinical utility
patients with UBE3A-related Angelman syndrome
-
has preferred adjunctive applications including
#9
classic ketogenic diet (cKD)
increase
risk of metabolic decompensation
patients with pathogenic variants of pyruvate carboxylase
-
is contraindicated in
#10
classic ketogenic diet (cKD)
increase
risk of metabolic decompensation
patients with pathogenic variants of SLC22A5
-
is contraindicated in
#11
Abstract

Drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) affects 20-30% of patients with epilepsy who fail to achieve seizure control with antiseizure medications, posing a significant therapeutic challenge. In this narrative review, we examine the clinical efficacy and safety of the classic ketogenic diet (cKD) and its variants, including the modified Atkins diet (MAD), medium-chain triglyceride diet (MCTD), and low glycemic index treatment (LGIT), in patients with genetically confirmed drug-resistant epilepsy. These diets induce a metabolic shift from glucose to ketones, enhance mitochondrial function, modulate neurotransmitter balance, and exert anti-inflammatory effects. However, genetic factors strongly influence the efficacy and safety of the cKD, with absolute indications including glucose transporter type 1 deficiency syndrome (GLUT1DS) and pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency (PDCD). Preferred adjunctive applications of the KD include genetic epilepsies, such as SCN1A-related Dravet syndrome, TSC1/TSC2-related tuberous sclerosis complex, and UBE3A-related Angelman syndrome. However, because of the risk of metabolic decompensation, the cKD is contraindicated in patients with pathogenic variants of pyruvate carboxylase and SLC22A5. Recent advancements in precision medicine suggest that genetic and microbiome profiling may refine patient selection and optimize KD-based dietary interventions. Genome-wide association studies and multiomics approaches have identified key metabolic pathways influencing the response to the cKD, and these pave the way for individualized treatment strategies. Future research should integrate genomic, metabolomic, and microbiome data to develop biomarker-driven dietary protocols with improved efficacy and safety. As dietary therapies continue to evolve, a personalized medical approach is essential to maximize their clinical utility for genetic epilepsy and refractory epilepsy syndromes.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
HumansDiet, KetogenicDrug Resistant EpilepsyTreatment Outcome
Study Links
Quality Scores
Safety70
Efficacy85/10
Quality80/10
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.05
Weight Score2.60
Normalized Score0.78
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