title: Elevated polyunsaturated fatty acids in blood serum obtained from children on the ketogenic diet.
abstract: The authors analyzed blood metabolites in nine children with epilepsy prior to starting the ketogenic diet (KD) and 3 to 4 weeks after KD therapy. Elevated beta-hydroxybutyrate and cortisol levels were observed in all children on the KD. Free fatty acids increased 2.2-fold on the KD, with significant elevations in most polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA; arachidonate increased 1.6- to 2.9-fold and docosahexaenoate increased 1.5- to 4.0-fold). The rise in total serum arachidonate correlated with improved seizure control. Elevated PUFA may represent a key anticonvulsant mechanism of the KD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Canada. drfraser@hotmail.com
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Whiting
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Andrew
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Macdonald
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Musa-Veloso
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Cunnane
mesh_terms: D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid / Q000097:blood; D000293:Adolescent; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D007659:Ketones / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D007659:Ketones; D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid; D006854:Hydrocortisone