Ketogenic diet (KD) is a potent and effective treatment for epilepsy in both children and adults and have been used as a treatment for epilepsy for more than a hundred years. The ketogenic diet is a medical diet crafted to change a body metabolism to a physiologic state called “ketosis”, and this metabolic process can potentially ameliorate or stop seizures in many patients.
At our Pediatric Epilepsy Center, we offer various types of the ketogenic diet therapies including the classic ketogenic diet (CKD), a modified Atkins diet (MAD), and a medium-chain triglyceride diet (MCT diet). Our multidisciplinary team provides highly specialized care and consultation, along with the combined expertise of pediatric neurologists, pediatric epilepsy specialists, specialist ketogenic dietitians, pediatric neurology nurses, a pharmacist, and a social worker.
About Ketogenic Diets
The ketogenic diet has multiple mechanisms to alleviate and stop seizures including, but not limited to, the following:
- Provide an alternative energy fuel to the brain and increase brain energy production, which result in the brain becoming more “resilient” to seizures.
- Alter the chemicals (neurotransmitters) in the brain and reduce brain excitation.
- Reduce inflammation in the brain.
- Possible neuroprotection (protect against loss of brain cells)
- Potentially change gene expression in the brain through the epigenetic process which may result in a sustained benefit and efficacy in seizure control.
Most people with epilepsy can benefit from the ketogenic diet therapy, especially ones whose seizures do not respond to medications. Additionally, patients with certain epilepsy diagnoses may have a significant and remarkable response to the ketogenic diet and should consider the therapy early, such as:
- Glucose transporter 1 deficiency syndrome
- Epilepsy with myoclonic-atonic seizures (Doose syndrome)
- Infantile spasms
- Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathy (DEE)
- Infants with epilepsy
- Epilepsy due to a genetic disorder
Chalongchai Phitsanuwong, MD
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