Epilepsy, a neurological condition that causes disturbances in the brain that lead to seizures, can be dangerous and life-threatening for young people. If your child experiences seizures, his physician may recommend medications and a specialized diet to reduce the likelihood of experiencing seizures. This diet is known as a ketogenic diet. While it does not treat seizures for all children, it can help an estimated one-third of all epileptic children become nearly seizure-free, according to the Epilepsy Foundation.
Typical Patients
An anti-seizure diet is typically recommended for young adults whose epilepsy has not responded to other treatments. Adults may not use this diet as effectively because they have trouble following it, according to the nonprofit Epilepsy Therapy Project. Epilepsy has many forms, and not all are effectively treated via an anti-seizure diet. However, infantile spasms, Rett syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome are some of the conditions that seem to respond to an anti-seizure diet.
How It Works
The anti-seizure diet works by tricking the child's body into thinking it is in starvation mode. This is accomplished by eating a diet that is higher in fat, yet low in calories -- similar in many ways to the low-carbohydrate Atkins diet. Because your child is not taking in a significant amount of glucose from carbohydrates, the body must burn fat instead. Physicians typically prescribe individual recommendations based on your child's condition, height, weight and other factors.
Dietary Specifications
When following a ketogenic diet, your child will typically eat 3 to 4 g of fat for every 1 g of carbohydrate and protein eaten. To calculate the amount of calories your child should eat each day, divide her body weight in pounds by 2.2. Then, multiply this number by 75 to 100 -- this is the amount of calories she should be consuming daily. You can calculate her body weight in pounds divided by 2.2 to determine the grams of protein she should eat on a daily basis. Because these calculations can be difficult, a dietitian and your child's physician can advise the best course of action. Your child also will need to take vitamin supplements to ensure she gets enough needed nutrients, like iron, vitamin D and folic acid.
Considerations
The ketogenic diet is a precise diet that requires your child to eat all of each recommended meal to completion. Skipping even one meal on the ketogenic diet can affect your child's epilepsy control. In addition to measuring and preparing meals, you also will be expected to measure your child's ketone levels twice per day via a urine test. When your child initially begins the diet, your physician may recommend keeping him in the hospital for a few days for observation and to help you understand how to best care for your child.
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