The Ketogenic Diet and Childhood Epilepsy

The ketogenic diet has been used for years as an alternative treatment for childhood epilepsy, but how?

Every day our bodies use sugar from foods that we eat to produce energy. When we undergo prolonged fasting or starvation, the sugar can get depleted from the body. Since the body still needs energy, it will turn to fat for its energy needs. Some scientists believe that it is this process that can help manage seizures.

When you haven’t eaten in a while, your body will begin to use fat as an energy source. When fat is broken down in the body, ketones are produced. The ketogenic diet is a special type of diet that takes advantage of this process. Introduced nearly 80 years ago, the ketogenic diet is used as an alternative option for epilepsy in children that do not respond well to anticonvulsants.

Basics of the Ketogenic Diet

Although scientists know that it has something to do with a lack of glucose in the body, they really don’t understand how the ketogenic diet works. They think that, by your body producing a lot of ketones, it can reduce the frequency and severity of seizures. Therefore, the diet consists of strictly little to no carbohydrates and a lot of fat. Some of the common foods seen in the ketogenic diet would include:

• Peanut butter
• Nuts
• Butter
• Creams
• Avocado

How Do I Start the Ketogenic Diet?

The ketogenic diet is very strict and requires total dedication in order for it to work. You would first need to consult your child’s pediatrician about the diet, since it is usually reserved as an alternative treatment to manage childhood seizures. If your healthcare provider decides that your child is a candidate for the ketogenic diet, he or she will admit your child to the hospital. There, your child would be observed during her transition in to the diet and also consult with a dietitian, who will closely follow your child’s diet. Studies have shown that 4 out of 10 children following this diet will have a reduction in their seizures.

Are There Any Problems with the Ketogenic Diet?

Other than requiring strict adherence, the ketogenic diet can work favorably in some children. It can, however, also produce some adverse effects, such as:

• Constipation/diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Kidney stones or gallstones
• High cholesterol
• Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
• Dehydration
• Slowed growth

Additionally, this diet may not provide your child with some of the essential vitamins and minerals she needs, so your healthcare provider may need to supplement these.

_Sources:

Jarrar RG, Buchhalter JR. Therapeutics in pediatric epilepsy, part 1: The new antiepileptic drugs and the ketogenic diet. Mayo Clinical Procedures 2003; 78(3):359-370.