The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet sometimes prescribed for children with a diagnosis of epilepsy. Initiation of the diet comes after a medical review to determine if this method of treatment would be appropriate for the individual child. A registered dietitian strictly monitors the diet to ensure it is properly followed. This diet is generally recommended for children who have not responded to traditional seizure treatments.
Identification
The ketogenic diet consists of mostly high-fat foods and significantly limits carbohydrates. The Johns Hopkins Children's Center believes this strict diet prompts biochemical changes which decreases seizure activity by altering brain functions. The body produces ketones when fat is used for energy instead of carbohydrates. While there is no clear reason why this diet is effective, higher ketone levels appear to correlate with more effective the seizure control.
Short-Term Effects
On this diet, your child may experience some short-term side effects that his physician will monitor. He may experience a temporary increase in his cholesterol levels of up to 30 percent, according to Epilepsy.com. The increase generally occurs within the first three months and does not continue or lead to increased risk of atherosclerosis. Other side effects include a higher risk of kidney stones, slowed growth and decreased bone density.
Other Factors
Use of this diet requires well-informed parents and care-givers with strict attention to the details of each meal. While this diet is considered effective, it can be very complicated to follow. Not properly following the diet will lead to poor outcomes and unsuccessful treatment. Your child must start the diet in a hospital setting for close monitoring. During this time, your child may feel sluggish and develop constipation or dehydration. He will need to take a daily multivitamin to ensure his vitamin and mineral needs are met. Your child will also generally be kept on his anti-seizure medication.
Outcomes
Johns Hopkins neurologists Dr. John Freeman and Dr. Eric Kossoff believe the ketogenic diet is more effective than anti-seizure medication and offers fewer side effects. These researchers conclude that “the diet’s therapeutic effects are often longer lasting than those of medication, and it has resulted in a full cure of seizures in at least some children.” The Charlie Foundation to Help Cure Pediatric Epilepsy reports that over half of 1,000 children monitored on the ketogenic diet have shown a 50 percent or greater improvement in seizure control.
References
- Johns Hopkins Children’s Center; High-Fat Ketogenic Diet Effectively Treats Persistent Childhood Seizures; May 2010
- Epilepsy.com; Side Effects on the Ketogenic Diet: Identification and Treatment; Eric Kossoff, MD; October 2007
- Johns Hopkins Children’s Center; High-Fat Ketogenic Diet Misunderstood, Underused; November 2010
- The Charlie Foundation: Position Statement on the Use of Diet Therapies for Pediatric Epilepsy
- Johns Hopkins Children’s Center; High-Fat Ketogenic Diet to Control Seizures Is Safe Over Long Term; February 2010
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