BACKGROUND: The ketogenic diet is a low-carbohydrate, adequate-protein, and high-fat diet with a long history of use for the treatment of intractable seizures in children. This dietary therapy has been enjoying increasing popularity in recent years, despite the availability of increasing numbers of new antiepileptic drugs and surgical treatments. REVIEW SUMMARY: The authors review the history of the ketogenic diet, the traditional protocol in initiating it, possible mechanisms of its action, evidence for efficacy, and side effects. In addition, they highlight some of the areas of active research in this field as well as future directions and unanswered questions. CONCLUSION: The ketogenic diet is an efficacious and relatively safe treatment of intractable seizures. Despite its long history, however, much remains unknown about the diet, including its mechanisms of action, the optimal protocol, and the full range of its applicability. Investigations of the diet are providing new insight into the mechanisms behind seizures and epilepsy itself, as well as possible new therapies.
BACKGROUND: The ketogenic diet is a low-carbohydrate, adequate-protein, and high-fat diet with a long history of use for the treatment of intractable seizures in children. This dietary therapy has been enjoying increasing popularity in recent years, despite the availability of increasing numbers of new antiepileptic drugs and surgical treatments. REVIEW SUMMARY: The authors review the history of the ketogenic diet, the traditional protocol in initiating it, possible mechanisms of its action, evidence for efficacy, and side effects. In addition, they highlight some of the areas of active research in this field as well as future directions and unanswered questions. CONCLUSION: The ketogenic diet is an efficacious and relatively safe treatment of intractable seizures. Despite its long history, however, much remains unknown about the diet, including its mechanisms of action, the optimal protocol, and the full range of its applicability. Investigations of the diet are providing new insight into the mechanisms behind seizures and epilepsy itself, as well as possible new therapies.
Authors: Sebastian Thaler; Tomasz J Choragiewicz; Robert Rejdak; Michal Fiedorowicz; Waldemar A Turski; Maria Tulidowicz-Bielak; Eberhart Zrenner; Frank Schuettauf; Tomasz Zarnowski Journal: Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol Date: 2010-06-08 Impact factor: 3.117
Authors: Reina J A de Kinderen; Danielle A J E Lambrechts; Debby Postulart; Alfons G H Kessels; Jos G M Hendriksen; Albert P Aldenkamp; Silvia M A A Evers; Marian H J M Majoie Journal: BMC Neurol Date: 2011-01-25 Impact factor: 2.474
Authors: Adam Zajac; Stanisław Poprzecki; Adam Maszczyk; Miłosz Czuba; Małgorzata Michalczyk; Grzegorz Zydek Journal: Nutrients Date: 2014-06-27 Impact factor: 5.717