What is Ketogenic Diet
Is the diet healthy for my child?
The diet alone is inadequate in many vitamins and minerals. Supplements will be prescribed for your child while on ketogenic diet therapy. The diet is used for 2 to 3 years. A regular diet is then resumed.
Are there any adverse effects of the ketogenic diet?
The most common adverse effect of the diet is constipation. There are several options available to prevent this problem including eating high fiber vegetables that are allowed on the diet and drinking enough water. A less common adverse effect is kidney stones. This problem can be prevented by making sure that the child drinks enough water. Other less common adverse effects include elevated lipids and decreased growth rate. Ask your ketogenic diet team about these effects.
Will anti-seizure medications be stopped after my child goes on the diet?
If the child is on more than one anti-seizure medication, one may be reduced as the child starts the ketogenic diet. The reduction of remaining seizure medication may be made if the child’s seizures improve over time.
How soon does it take for the diet to reduce or eliminate seizures?
The diet can become effective immediately or can take several months. Each child is unique and has different seizure patterns and frequency. There is usually improvement within the first 10 weeks on the ketogenic diet.
How is the diet initiated?
The diet is initiated under close medical supervision in the hospital. The diet is started gradually and increased to the full amount over a 3 to 4 day period. During this time blood sugar and ketone levels are monitored. A fasting period is not necessary to start the diet although it is used at some medical centers. The child may go home when he or she is tolerating the full ketogenic diet.
What type of seizures is the ketogenic diet helpful for?
The diet works for different types of seizures and has not been limited to any one type.
How effective is the diet at controlling or eliminating seizures?
The diet has never been evaluated in a controlled scientific study. Studies that have followed children on the diet for long periods reveal that 1/3 of children treated with the ketogenic diet have greater than 90% seizure control with half of these children becoming seizure free. An additional 1/3 gain a 50% reduction in seizures. The remaining 1/3 discontinue the diet due to its ineffectiveness or its difficulty.
How does the diet work?
The special combination of foods in the ketogenic diet causes the body to use mostly fat for energy. The body makes ketones as an end result.
