Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Lambrechts, Danielle A.J.E
• Wielders, Laura H.P
• Aldenkamp, Albert P
• Kessels, Fons G.H
• de Kinderen, Reina J.A
• Majoie, Marian J.M

Titel

The ketogenic diet as a treatment option in adults with chronic refractory epilepsy: Efficacy and tolerability in clinical practice

Ist Teil von

• Epilepsy & behavior, 2012-03, Vol.23 (3), p.310-314

Ort / Verlag

United States: Elsevier Inc

Erscheinungsjahr

2012

Quelle

Elsevier ScienceDirect Journals

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Abstract The ketogenic diet (KD) is a high-fat, low-protein, low-carbohydrate diet that is used as a treatment for patients with difficult-to-control epilepsy. The present study assesses the efficacy and tolerability of the KD as an add-on therapy in adults with chronic refractory epilepsy. 15 adults were treated with the classical diet or MCT diet. During a follow-up period of 1 year we assessed seizure frequency, seizure severity, tolerability, cognitive performance, mood and quality of life (QOL). We found a significant reduction in seizures among the patients who followed the diet at least 1 year (n = 5). Of these 5 patients, 2 had a reduction between 50 and 90%. Analyzing the study months separately, we found a seizure reduction of ≥ 50% in 26.6% of the patients during at least 1 month of treatment. Common side-effects were gastrointestinal disorders, loss of weight and fatigue. There was a considerable, non-significant improvement found in mood and QOL scores. Improvements were independent of reduction in seizure frequency, indicating that the effects of the KD reach further than seizure control.