An effective medical replacement therapy: ketogenic diet for intractable childhood epilepsy

Authors

  • Ansh Chaudhary Department of Paediatrics, Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College and Research Centre, Pune, Maharashtra, India
  • Bhupendra Chaudhary Department of Neurology, Jaswant Rai Speciality Hospital, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20211385

Keywords:

Replacement therapy, Ketogenic diet, Childhood epilepsy

Abstract

Ketogenic diet (KD) a high fat, adequate protein and low carbohydrate restrictive diet has a long history of its use in intractable epilepsy of childhood. The diet produces biochemical changes mimicking that of starvation. The high levels of ketone bodies produced by KD act as a major source of energy for brain replacing the usual glucose.1 Comprising the ratio of 4:1 (fat:carbohydrate and protein) by weight, the diet produces state of ketonemia or ketosis that leads to reduction in frequency of epileptic seizures by is unique mode of action. To increase the palatability medium chain triglycerides (as coconut oil) in ratio of 3:1 is used which is more efficiently absorbed and have lesser gastro intestinal side effects as compared to traditional 4:1 ratio diet with long chain triglycerides like PUFA

Author Biographies

Ansh Chaudhary, Department of Paediatrics, Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College and Research Centre, Pune, Maharashtra, India

Post Graduate Department of Paediatrics, Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College and Research Centre, Pune, Maharashtra, India

Bhupendra Chaudhary, Department of Neurology, Jaswant Rai Speciality Hospital, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India

Principal Consultant and Head, Department of Neurology, Jaswant Rai Speciality Hospital, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India

References

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Trauner DA. Medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) diet in intractable seizure disorders. Neurology. 1985;35:237-8.

Wexler ID, Hemalatha SG, McConnell J, et al. Outcome of pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency treated with ketogenic diets. Studies in patients with identical mutations. Neurology. 1997;49:1655-61.

Danial NN, Hartman AL, Stafstrom CE, Thio LL. How does the ketogenic diet work? Four potential mechanisms. J Child Neurol. 2013;28:1027-33.

Wheless JW. The ketogenic diet: an effective medical therapy with side effects. J Child Neurol. 2001;16:633-5.

Martinez CC, Pyzik PL, Kossoff EH. Discontinuing the ketogenic diet in seizure-free children: recurrence and risk factors. Epilepsia. 2007;48:187-90.

Thiele EA. Assessing the efficacy of antiepileptic treatments: the ketogenic diet. Epilepsia. 2003;44(7):26-9.

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Published

2021-03-26

How to Cite

Chaudhary, A., & Chaudhary, B. (2021). An effective medical replacement therapy: ketogenic diet for intractable childhood epilepsy. International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 9(4), 1234–1235. https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20211385

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Section

Letter to the Editor