Ketogenic Diet Outperforms Medications for Children with Epilepsy

Source: frontiersin.org

Summary

A study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of a ketogenic diet (KD) with traditional antiseizure medications (ASMs) in children who have developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEE). The research involved 268 children, with 128 following the ketogenic diet and 140 receiving only adjustments to their antiseizure medications. The children were monitored for changes in their seizure activity and overall development over a period of 6 months.

The results showed that children on the ketogenic diet had a better response to seizures compared to those who only adjusted their medications. Specifically, about 51% of the children on the diet experienced a significant reduction in seizures, while only about 29% of those on medications alone saw similar improvements. Additionally, the ketogenic diet group had higher rates of being seizure-free, showed better improvements in brain activity on EEG tests, and made more developmental progress. The side effects from the diet were minimal and manageable.

These findings are important because they suggest that a ketogenic diet may be a more effective treatment option for children with DEE than just relying on medication adjustments. However, it’s worth noting that this study was conducted at a single center, and more research is needed to confirm these results in different settings and populations. Understanding the potential benefits and limitations of the ketogenic diet can help families make informed decisions about treatment options for their children.

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