What is a Ketogenic Diet and What is it used for?
The ketogenic diet is used to treat children suffering from specific types of epilepsy that have not responded favorably to traditional treatments. The ketogenic diet has proven to be surprisingly effective in reducing the severity of seizures or even âcuringâ this disease in some individuals, and is especially effective in treating multiple seizure types.
What the Ketogenic Diet Does
The ketogenic diet is defined by a high fat to carbohydrate calorie intake ratio. A calorie restriction of 10-25% is also often imposed. This diet is designed to induce ketosis, which is a physiological state defined by the production of ketone bodies. These ketone bodies are a byproduct of the body burning fat stores to produce energy. Mild ketosis can occur naturally in healthy individuals should their carbohydrate stores be depleted enough to cause increased fat metabolism, for example, during prolonged, intense exercise. High ketone levels though, can pose a serious health threat because blood and tissues will become acidic. The ketogenic diet is designed to induce moderate to high levels of ketosis and therefore should never be attempted without close medical supervision.
Using the Ketogenic Diet
The typical ratio for infants and teens starting on the diet is 3:1, but over time the ratio may be increased to 4:1. The greatest efficacy is seen in diets with higher ratios, but some children have a hard time tolerating these ratios. Recent studies have shown that lower ratios may be effective enough for some children and may be appropriate for those unable to tolerate a traditional ketogenic diet. Although fluid intake used to be restricted, this is no longer required by most treatment centers. The reduction in calorie intake may also be unnecessary, but overweight children may experience a benefit in terms of reduced seizures. Laboratory rodents maintained on a calorie-restricted diet alone experienced reduced seizure frequency, so there may be a small benefit to calorie restriction. Once the ketogenic diet is started it can take up to two weeks before a reduction in seizure frequency is observed.
Why is the Ketogenic Diet Effective?
No one actually knows why the ketogenic diet is effective. Recent research revealed that laboratory rodents maintained on a ketogenic diet experienced an almost 50% increase in the number of mitochondria inhabiting nerve endings in the brain, which are the subcellular organelles critical for producing the energy required for cellular survival and function. A substantial increase in the expression of genes involved in energy metabolism was also observed. These results were interpreted as suggesting the ketogenic diet improves energy production and storage in the brain, which in turn provides a buffer against metabolic stressors that can cause seizures.
Disclaimer: Epilepsy is a serious disease that should not be treated using the information provided here, without first consulting a medical doctor.
References
Bough, K. (2008). Epilepsia, vol. 49(supplement 8), pp. 91-93.
Wirrell, E. C. (2008). Epilepsia, vol. 49(supplement 8), pp. 17-19.
