Ketogenic Diet For Epilepsy Dietitian
The ketogenic diet for epilepsy kde is a special diet that has helped many children and some adults achieve better or even full control of their seizures it s a first line treatment for a few specific epilepsy syndromes such as epilepsy due to mutations in glut 1 or pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency.
Ketogenic diet for epilepsy dietitian. The modified atkins diet and modified ketogenic diet sometimes called modified ketogenic therapy use a high proportion of fats and a strict control of carbohydrates. Ketogenic diets are back in the news with claims they are a cure all. The classic ketogenic diet is a special high fat low carbohydrate diet that helps to control seizures in some people with epilepsy. Research shows that in epilepsy not controlled by current treatment around 50 of children and adults following ketogenic diets have a reduction in seizures.
The ketogenic diet kd is a high fat low carbohydrate diet with adequate protein that s a nonpharmacologic treatment for refractory epilepsy 1 2 although the use of the kd was first reported in 1921 by russell m. Ketogenic diet kd first proposed at the beginning of the last century is complex and has anticonvulsant effects yet not completely understood. Article credit to the conversation by clare collins university of newcastle and rebecca williams university of newcastle. Over the last decades different types of ketogenic diets kds have been developed namely classical kd and modified atkins diet mad.
Modified atkins diet mad and modified ketogenic diet. Refractory epilepsy is defined as epilepsy that cannot be controlled through the use of anti epilepsy medication. The diet forces the body to burn fats rather than carbohydrates. Normally carbohydrates in food are converted into glucose which is then transported around the body and is important in fueling brain function.
A ketogenic dietitian needs to individually set the diet for each person so that it is safe and nutritious. The ketogenic diet has been studied and used for over one hundred years in the treatment of epilepsy. It is prescribed by a physician and carefully monitored by a dietitian. This is where the ketogenic diet really comes into its own.
Wilder md at mayo clinic 1 3 hippocrates established in the 5th century bc that fasting reduced seizure activity 1 3 then in the.