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Ketogenic diet for epilepsy

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AG.Bergqvist et al. Fasting versus gradual initiation of the ketogenic diet: a prospective, randomized clinical trial of efficacy. Epilepsia. 2005 Nov;46(11):1810–9.
EH.Kossoff et al. A modified Atkins diet is effective for the treatment of intractable pediatric epilepsy. Epilepsia. 2006 Feb;47(2):421–4.
R.Levy et al. Ketogenic diet for epilepsy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2003;(3):CD001903.

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 September 2013

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In a nutshell

Producing ketosis by high fat and low carbohydrate intake appears to significantly reduce seizure frequency in 2/3rds of epileptics unresponsive to conventional drugs.

Side-effects need to be watched for, and data on long-term complications is lacking. Since the evidence is mostly case-series rather than RCTs, caution in implementation alongwith expert dietetic support is appropriate.

Information

Type
Brief Report
Information
Arbor Clinical Nutrition Updates , Volume 252 , May 2006, pp. 1 - 3
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2006

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References

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