Advances in Ketogenic Diet Therapies in Pediatric Epilepsy: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Objective: To review the effects of the ketogenic diet on epilepsy in children and adolescents.

Data Sources: A literature search was conducted in PubMed with no publication date or language restrictions based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses guidelines. Keywords used included children, adolescent, ketogenic diet, epilepsy, and seizure.

Study Selection: After excluding articles that did not meet the inclusion criteria, such as missing variables of study, adult population, and nonrandomized clinical trials, a total of 12 studies were included in the final review.

Data Extraction: Data on study design, duration, sample size, population, and type of intervention were collected using a standard template.

Results: The ketogenic diet and its modified versions were noted to have beneficial effects in reduction of seizure frequency and severity, with manageable adverse effects such as gastrointestinal disturbances, dehydration, dyslipidemia, hyperuricemia, infection, and metabolic acidosis.

Conclusions: Depending on patient compliance and comorbidities, all variations of the ketogenic diet were found to be helpful for seizure treatment, whether as an additive or an alternative treatment option, for children and adolescents with epilepsy.

Prim Care Companion CNS Disord 2024;26(3):23r03661.

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