Effect of Ketogenic Diet on Motor Functions and Daily Living Activities of Children With Multidrug-Resistant Epilepsy: A Prospective Study

Aims: To investigate the effect of ketogenic diet on motor function and daily living activities in children with epilepsy

Efficacy and tolerability of olive oil-based ketogenic diet in children with drug -resistant epilepsy: A single center experience from Turkey

Purpose: Ketogenic diet (KD) is an effective non-pharmacological treatment for drug resistant epilepsy. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy, tolerability and complications of olive oil-based KD in epileptic children

Analysis of hematological parameters in patients treated with ketogenic diet due to drug-resistant epilepsy

Benefits of the ketogenic diet (KD) in epileptic patients are well known while less is known about the nutritional risks of the diet and its potential impacts on biochemical nutritional status. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the hematological parameters of patients who have drug-resistant epilepsy and are treated with KD. Fifty-three patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (mean age 7.4 +/- 4.4 years [2-18], 23 [43.4%] female) were included in the study. Demographic and laboratory data of the patients were retrospectively analyzed at baseline and Month 6 and Month 12 of the treatment. Repeated measures ANOVA (post hoc Bonferroni correction) and Friedman test were used to assess the changes in data during the treatment. Mean hemoglobin levels increased by 0.594 g/dL after 6 months (p = 0.001) and by 0.602 g/dL after 12 months of the treatment (p = 0.002). Mean hematocrit level was found to be significantly increased at Month 6 and 12 of the treatment compared to baseline [F(2,94) = 8.9, p < 0.0001]. An increase in MCV levels was determined with the KD treatment [F(2,94) = 19.7, p < 0.0001]. Mean level of vitamin B12 was found to be significantly increased in Month 12 of treatments compared to Month 6 [F(1.686,72.479) = 3.472, p = 0.035]. There was no significant effect of KD on other hematological parameters (red blood cell, white blood cell and platelet counts, serum iron, total iron-binding capacity, transferrin saturation, and ferritin and folic acid levels). We can conclude that KD increases levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, and serum vitamin B12 in patients with intractable epilepsy. Prospective, multi-center, longitudinal studies are needed to confirm our results

The Effect of Ketogenic Diet on Serum Selenium Levels in Patients with Intractable Epilepsy

The aim of the present study was to evaluate serum selenium levels in children receiving olive oil-based ketogenic diet (KD) for intractable seizures for at least 1 year. Out of 320 patients who were initiated on KD, patients who continued receiving KD for at least 12 months were enrolled. Sixteen patients who had selenium deficiency at the time of starting KD were excluded. Finally, a total of 110 patients (mean age 7.3 +/- 4.2 years) were included. Serum selenium levels were measured at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment initiation by using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Selenium deficiency was defined as a serum selenium level < 48 mu g/L at each visit. Repeated measure ANOVA with post hoc Bonferroni correction was used for data analysis. Mean duration of KD was 15.3 +/- 4.3 months. Mean serum selenium levels were significantly lower at 6 and 12 months of KD treatment (66.2 +/- 23.3 and 57.2 +/- 16.2 mu g/L, respectively) compared to pre-treatment levels (79.3 +/- 25.7 mu g/L) (p = 0.001). On the other hand, selenium levels did not show any significant difference at 3 months of KD treatment (70.0 +/- 21.2 mu g/L) compared to baseline levels (p = 0.076). A total of 54 patients (49.1%) were diagnosed with selenium deficiency, and oral selenium medication was initiated for these patients. No relevant clinical findings were detected, and echocardiographic findings were normal in all patients. The decline of the serum selenium concentrations after 6 and 12 months of ketogenic diet suggests that patients on this highly prescriptive dietary treatment need close monitoring of this trace element