Ketogenic Diet May Improve Seizure Control in Epilepsy
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Source: Nutrition reviews
Summary
Researchers studied how the ketogenic diet (KD) affects the microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA) in people with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). They looked at data from seven studies that included 93 patients who were following the KD. The goal was to understand how changes in gut bacteria and other factors related to the MGBA might influence seizure control in these patients.
The key findings showed that after starting the KD, there were changes in the types of bacteria present in the gut. Specifically, some bacteria decreased while others increased, and certain metabolic pathways related to fat and carbohydrates shifted. Patients who had healthier gut bacteria and higher levels of beneficial compounds tended to have better seizure control, while some other bacteria were linked to worse outcomes.
These findings are important because they suggest that the ketogenic diet may not only help with seizures but also change gut health in ways that could affect treatment outcomes. However, the study has limitations, such as a small number of participants and a moderate to high risk of bias, which means the results may not apply to everyone. More research is needed, especially with larger and more diverse groups, to better understand how the KD interacts with gut health and epilepsy treatment.
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