Ketogenic Diet More Effective for Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

Source: Seizure

Summary

Researchers studied two diets, the classical ketogenic diet (CKD) and the modified Atkins diet (MAD), to see how well they help children with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). DRE is when seizures do not respond to standard medications. The study included eight different research articles that looked at how these diets affected seizure frequency in children over a follow-up period of about three months.

The findings showed that both diets were effective in reducing seizures, but the CKD was better than the MAD for achieving a significant reduction in seizures by more than 50%. However, there were no major differences between the two diets when it came to completely stopping seizures or reducing them by 90%. Both diets had similar side effects related to fats and digestion, with the MAD showing a slight trend toward fewer issues like vomiting and constipation.

This study is important because it helps families understand that while both diets can be helpful for managing DRE, the CKD may offer more benefits in reducing seizures. However, it's also important to note that the study had some limitations, such as the small number of studies included and the short follow-up time. More research is needed to confirm these results and to explore the long-term effects of these diets on children's health and quality of life.

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