CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2017; 75(04): 234-237
DOI: 10.1590/0004-282X20170028
ARTICLE

The use of a formula-based ketogenic diet in children with refractory epilepsy

O uso da dieta cetogênica a base de fórmula em crianças com epilepsia refratária
Letícia Pereira de Brito Sampaio
1   Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Hospital das Clínicas, Instituto da Criança, Departamento de Neuropediatria, São Paulo SP, Brasil;
,
Cristina Takakura
2   Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Hospital das Clínicas, Instituto da Criança, Departamento de Nutrição, São Paulo SP, Brasil.
,
Maria Luiza Giraldes de Manreza
1   Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Hospital das Clínicas, Instituto da Criança, Departamento de Neuropediatria, São Paulo SP, Brasil;
› Author Affiliations

ABSTRACT

The ketogenic diet (KD) is a nonpharmacologic treatment that has been used for refractory epilepsy since 1921. The KD is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate, and restricted protein diet, which is calculated and weighed for each individual patient. Introducing and maintaining the diet for a long time remains a challenge. In this study, we evaluated the acceptability, tolerance, and efficacy of a formula-based KD in 10 children with refractory epilepsy. The ketogenic formula tested herein caused only mild KD-related adverse events and adequate adherence. Moreover, 60% of patients had more than 50% seizure frequency reduction and 10% were seizure-free.

RESUMO

A dieta cetogênica (DC) é um tratamento não farmacológico utilizado para epilepsia refratária desde 1921. A DC possui um alto teor de gordura, sendo restrita em carboidratos e adequada em proteínas, calculada e pesada para cada paciente. A introdução e manutenção da DC por um tempo prolongado permanece um desafio. Neste estudo foi avaliada a aceitação, tolerância e eficácia da DC baseada em fórmula em 10 crianças com epilepsia refratária. A DC apresentou adequada aderência e efeitos adversos leves. Além disso, 60% dos pacientes apresentaram mais de 50 % de redução frequência das crises e 10% ficaram livres de crises.



Publication History

Received: 07 September 2016

Accepted: 06 January 2017

Article published online:
05 September 2023

© 2023. Academia Brasileira de Neurologia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda.
Rua do Matoso 170, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP 20270-135, Brazil

 
  • References

  • 1 World Health Organization - WHO. Epilepsy. Geneva: World Healh Organization; 2016 [cited 2016 Jul 23]. Disponível em: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs999/en/
  • 2 Kwan P, Brodie MJ. Early identification of refractory epilepsy. N Engl J Med. 2000;342(5):314-9. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM200002033420503
  • 3 Kossoff EH, Zupec-Kania BA, Amark PE, Ballaban-Gil KR, Christina Bergqvist AG, Blackford R et al. Optimal clinical management of children receiving the ketogenic diet: recommendations of the International Ketogenic Diet Study Group.Epilepsia. 2009;50(2):304-17. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1528-1167.2008.01765.x PMID:18823325
  • 4 Kossoff EH, Zupec-Kania BA, Rho JM. Ketogenic diets: an update for child neurologists. J Child Neurol. 2009;24(8):979-88. https://doi.org/10.1177/0883073809337162
  • 5 Rho JM. How does the ketogenic diet induce anti-seizure effects? Neuroscience Letters. 2017;637:4-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2015.07.034
  • 6 Danial NN, Hartman AL, Stafstrom CE, Thio LL. How does the ketogenic diet work? Four potential mechanisms. J Child Neurol. 2013;28(8):1027-33. https://doi.org/10.1177/0883073813487598
  • 7 Kossoff EH, Caraballo RH, du Toit T, Kim HD, MacKay MT, Nathan JK et al. Dietary therapies: a worldwide phenomenon. Epilepsy Res. 2012;100(3):205-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2011.05.024
  • 8 Kossoff EH, Wang HS. Dietary therapies for epilepsy. Biomed J. 2013;36(1):2-8. https://doi.org/10.4103/2319-4170.107152
  • 9 Freeman JM, Vining EP, Pillas DJ, Pyzik PL, Casey JC, Kelly LM. The efficacy of the ketogenic diet-1988: a prospective evaluation of intervention in 150 children. Pediatrics. 1998;102(6):1358-63. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.102.6.1358
  • 10 Murakami D, Azevedo P. Dieta cetogênica. In: Silva APA, Nascimento AG, Zamberlan P, organizers. Manual de dietas e condutas nutricionais. São Paulo: Atheneu; 2014. p. 307-13.
  • 11 Bergqvist AG, Schall JI, Gallagher PR, Cnaan A, Stallings VA. Fasting versus gradual initiation of the ketogenic diet: a prospective, randomized clinical trial of efficacy. Epilepsia. 2005;46(11):1810-9. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1528-1167.2005.00282.x
  • 12 Neal EG, Chaffe H, Schwartz RH, Lawson MS, Edwards N, Fitzsimmons G et al. The ketogenic diet for the treatment of childhood epilepsy: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet Neurol. 2008;7(6):500-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(08)70092-9
  • 13 Caraballo RH, Fortini S, Fresler S, Armeno M, Ariela A, Cresta A et al. Ketogenic diet in patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Seizure. 2014;23(9):751-5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seizure.2014.06.005
  • 14 Wirrell EC, Darwish HZ, Williams-Dyjur C, Blackman M, Lange V. Is a fast necessary when initiating the ketogenic diet? J Child Neurol. 2002;17(3):179-82. https://doi.org/10.1177/088307380201700305
  • 15 Kim DW, Kang HC, Park JC, Kim HD. Benefits of the nonfasting ketogenic diet compared with the initial fasting ketogenic diet. Pediatrics. 2004;114(6):1627-30. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2004-1001