Use of the ketogenic diet as a treatment for epilepsy refractory to drug treatment.
The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate and low-protein diet used in the treatment of epilepsy that does not respond to antiepileptic drugs. The diet has been found to be very effective in treating intractable epilepsy in children. There is also some evidence that the diet is useful in treating drug-resistant epilepsy in infants, adolescents and adults. This paper traces the history and development of the ketogenic diet and reviews the clinical and animal research investigating its effects.
Murphy
Patricia
P
University of Toronto, Department of Pharmacology, Medical Sciences Building, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A8, Canada. pattyannemurphy@hotmail.com
D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000266:history / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005104:Expert Testimony; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007659:Ketones / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D004041:Dietary Fats; D007659:Ketones