Ketogenic Diet and the Effects on Epilepsy

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Ketogenic Diet and the Effects on Epilepsy


The ketogenic diet (KD) is a diet that is high in fat and low in carbohydrates. This diet sends the body into a ketogenic state (using ketone bodies instead of glucose as the major source of energy). Using the ketogenic diet for treatment of refractory epilepsy was first reported in the early 1900’s. Epilepsy is the most common neurological disorder in the world. According to a study done in 2008 by the International Ketogenic Diet Study Group, KD may be efficacious for the following types of epilepsy: infantile spasms, tuberous sclerosis complex, myoclonic-astatic epilepsy (Doose syndrome), severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy (Dravet syndrome), and Rett syndrome. The specific mechanism of how the KD effects seizures is not yet known. What is known is that when the body has elevated ketone bodies, they inhibit neuronal excitability. This slows the firing rates of neurons with decrease seizure activity. If ketone bodies are the reason for decreased seizures, there should be a correlation between serum ketone concentration and the decrease of seizures. However, only one study has shown this correlation. This raises the question of is the KD diet effective due to high ketone bodies or due to the low amount of glucose available. The most common KD uses the 4:1 ratio, this means that the diet is four parts fat, and one-part carbohydrate and protein.
 
The Ketogenic Diet for Epilepsy — Learn About the Diet, the Medical Conditions It's Used to Treat, and Its Mechanism of Action
By Rebecca Randall, MS, RD, and Sue Groveman, MS, RD, LDN
Today's Dietitian
Vol. 18 No. 5 P. 46

Comments

  1. ksu internsMarch 9, 2017 at 7:56 PM

    I am really glad you posted about the ketogenic diet and the population it is most commonly associated with in the medical field. Recently, I have been hearing from quite a few young college students about how they are trying out the ketogenic diet, while being misinformed about what they are letting happen in their body. Our body, naturally, wants to use glucose as the major source of energy. When carb intake is low, the body will eventually be forced to breakdown fat. This results in the presence of ketone bodies, which are toxic to the body. They can build up in the blood and spill over into the urine. They can even be excreted through the lungs. For individuals who are not epileptic, I think they should consider doing some research on the mechanism of the ketogenic diet, and potentially talk to an RD especially if the person is an athlete. Although more research needs to be done on the effect of the ketogenic diet and epilepsy, we do currently know the repercussions of unnecessarily adapting a ketogenic diet.

    KS

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