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About LGS
Community Forum
Treatments
Diets
Ketogenic Diet
Modified Atkins
VNS
Surgery
Medications
Alternative Therapies
Donate
Resources
Media
Events
Stories
The Ketogenic diet is used to treat children with severe epilepsy including
Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, who have not responded well to anti-epileptic medicines.
What is the Diet?
The Ketogenic diet is a high fat, low carbohydrate diet which forces the body to burn
more fat than sugar. The diet is restrictive, containing a 4:1 ratio by weight of fat to
protein and carbohydrates, but has been shown to be very helpful in reducing
seizures in children with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and other forms of refractory
epilepsy.
How does it work?
The ketogenic diet puts the body into a state of ketosis, which is said to have an
anti-convulsant effect. When carbohydrates are restricted, the liver converts fat into
fatty acids and ketone bodies. The ketones replace glucose as the energy source in
the brain, thus sending the body into ketosis.
What is involved with the diet?
The ketogenic diet starts with the strict supervision of a doctor and dietitian, followed
by a 24 hour fasting period to raise the ketone level in the brain. The diet is then
gradually introduced into the child's body.
Can adults try the ketogenic diet?
The efficiacy of the ketogenic diet for adults is unknown. Doctors seldom
recommend the ketogenic diet for adults, but new studies are underway to
determine the efficiacy of the modified atkins diet in adults with refractory epilepsy.
What types of food are eaten?
The food types vary but mainly consists of fatty foods sch as mayonaise, cream and
butter with little carbohydrates.
How effective is the diet?
Over one half of those children who are placed on the diet have a 50% reduction of
seizures or more. Between 10-15% of children on the diet will eventually become
seizure free. The diet requires strict supervision and even the slightest departure
may cause the diet to lose its effect.
What about medications?
Medications are not discontinued once the diet is started. The doctor can determine
when to decrease the medications while on the diet. Doctors usually recommend
vitamins and mineral supplements to accompany the diet since a deficiency may
otherwise by developed.
Side Effects:
Dehydration
Constipation
Kidney Stones
Bone Fractures
Vomiting
High cholesterol level
Slower growth rates in children
For more information on the ketogenic diet, please visit:
www.charliefoundation.org
www.matthewsfriends.org
Podcasts on the Ketogenic Diet
Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, who have not responded well to anti-epileptic medicines.
What is the Diet?
The Ketogenic diet is a high fat, low carbohydrate diet which forces the body to burn
more fat than sugar. The diet is restrictive, containing a 4:1 ratio by weight of fat to
protein and carbohydrates, but has been shown to be very helpful in reducing
seizures in children with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and other forms of refractory
epilepsy.
How does it work?
The ketogenic diet puts the body into a state of ketosis, which is said to have an
anti-convulsant effect. When carbohydrates are restricted, the liver converts fat into
fatty acids and ketone bodies. The ketones replace glucose as the energy source in
the brain, thus sending the body into ketosis.
What is involved with the diet?
The ketogenic diet starts with the strict supervision of a doctor and dietitian, followed
by a 24 hour fasting period to raise the ketone level in the brain. The diet is then
gradually introduced into the child's body.
Can adults try the ketogenic diet?
The efficiacy of the ketogenic diet for adults is unknown. Doctors seldom
recommend the ketogenic diet for adults, but new studies are underway to
determine the efficiacy of the modified atkins diet in adults with refractory epilepsy.
What types of food are eaten?
The food types vary but mainly consists of fatty foods sch as mayonaise, cream and
butter with little carbohydrates.
How effective is the diet?
Over one half of those children who are placed on the diet have a 50% reduction of
seizures or more. Between 10-15% of children on the diet will eventually become
seizure free. The diet requires strict supervision and even the slightest departure
may cause the diet to lose its effect.
What about medications?
Medications are not discontinued once the diet is started. The doctor can determine
when to decrease the medications while on the diet. Doctors usually recommend
vitamins and mineral supplements to accompany the diet since a deficiency may
otherwise by developed.
Side Effects:
Dehydration
Constipation
Kidney Stones
Bone Fractures
Vomiting
High cholesterol level
Slower growth rates in children
For more information on the ketogenic diet, please visit:
www.charliefoundation.org
www.matthewsfriends.org
Podcasts on the Ketogenic Diet
