The KD works quickly when effective, typically within the first 1–2 weeks. Starting the KD after a fasting periodmay lead to a more rapid, but equivalent long-term seizure reduction, confirming prior reports. If the KD has not led to seizure reduction after 2 months, it can probably be discontinued.
Category: Ketogenic Diet
Ketogenic Diets: Evidence For Short- and Long-term Efficacy
This review discusses the animal and human evidence for both short- and long-term benefits of dietary therapies.
A Pilot Study of The Modified Atkins Diet For Sturge–Weber Syndrome
The modified Atkins diet (MAD) is a dietary treatment for epilepsy which does not restrict fluids or calories. This theoretically makes the MAD safer than the ketogenic diet for children with Sturge–Weber syndrome (SWS). Five children aged 4–18 years with SWS and at least monthly intractable seizures were started prospectively on the MAD for 6 months. All children had urinary ketosis and seizure improvement, including 3 with >50% seizure reduction.
Will Seizure Control Improve By Switching From The Modified Atkins Diet to The Traditional Ketogenic Diet?
A higher incidence of improvement with the KD occurred for those with myoclonic-astatic epilepsy including all who became seizure-free.
Prospective Study of the Modified Atkins Diet in Combination With a Ketogenic Liquid Supplement During the Initial Month
This study analyzed the combination of the Modified Atkins Diet and the supplement KetoCal in the treatment of intractible childhood epilepsy. The use of this ketogenic supplement increased daily fat intake and thus the ketogenic ratio but did not change urinary or serum ketosis. The addition of a ketogenic supplement to the modified Atkins diet during its initial month appears to be beneficial.
Dietary Therapies for Epilepsy
The two major nonpharmacologic treatments for patients with epilepsy are neurostimulation devices (e.g. vagus nerve stimulators) and dietary treatments (ketogenic). In this review, we will cover the latter treatments, namely, using diets.
Long Term Effects of a Ketogenic Diet in Obese Patients
The present study shows the beneficial effects of a long-term ketogenic diet. It significantly reduced the body weight and body mass index of the patients. Furthermore, it decreased the level of triglycerides, LDL cholesterol and blood glucose, and increased the level of HDL cholesterol. Administering a ketogenic diet for a relatively longer period of time did not produce any significant side effects in the patients. Therefore, the present study confirms that it is safe to use a ketogenic diet for a longer period of time than previously demonstrated.
Very-low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet v. low-fat diet for long-term weight loss: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
Individuals assigned to a VLCKD achieve a greater weight loss than those assigned to a LFD in the long term; hence, a VLCKD may be an alternative tool against obesity.
Urinary Ketones Reflect Serum Ketone Concentration But Do Not Relate to Weight Loss in Overweight Premenopausal Women Following a Low-carbohydrate/High-protein Diet
Thirteen overweight premenopausal women aged 32 to 45 years consumed <20 g carbohydrate/day with liberal intakes of protein and fat for 2 weeks; thereafter, carbohydrate intake increased 5 g/week for 10 weeks. Serum-hydroxybutyrate was correlated with presence of urinary ketones, but no relationship was found between weekly weight change and serum ketone production. Urinary ketones are detected in premenopausal women complying with a low-carbohydrate/high-protein diet and are associated with serum ketone concentration.
Short-Term Effects of Severe Dietary Carbohydrate-Restriction Advice in Type 2 Diabetes–a Randomized Controlled Trial
Weight loss and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio improved was greater in the low-carbohydrate (LC) group over low fat group. Carbohydrate restriction was an effective method of achieving short-term weight loss compared with standard advice.