Dietary therapies for epilepsy

Eric Kossoff*, Huei Shyong Wang

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

67 Scopus citations

Abstract

Since their introduction in 1921, high-fat, low-carbohydrate "ketogenic" diets have been used worldwide for refractory childhood epilepsy. Approximately half of the children have at least half their seizures reduced, including 15% who are seizure free. The mechanisms of action of dietary therapies are under active investigation and appear to involve mitochondria. Once perceived as a last resort, modifications to initiation and maintenance, as well as the widespread use of pre-made ketogenic formulas have allowed dietary treatment to be used earlier in the course of epilepsy. For infantile spasms (West syndrome) specifically, the ketogenic diet is successful about 50% of the time as a first-line treatment. New "alternative" diets such as the modified Atkins diet were created in 2003 and can be started more easily and are less restrictive. They may have particular value for countries in Asia. Side effects include constipation, dyslipidemia, growth slowing, acidosis, and kidney stones. Additionally, neurologists are studying ketogenic diets for conditions other than epilepsy, including Alzheimer′s disease, autism, and brain tumors.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2-8
Number of pages7
JournalBiomedical Journal
Volume36
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 01 2013

Keywords

  • Atkins
  • children
  • diet
  • epilepsy
  • ketogenic
  • ketosis

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