title: Children with seizures exhibit preferences for foods compatible with the ketogenic diet.
abstract: Although highly effective for the treatment of intractable epilepsy, the ketogenic diet is not always included in the treatment option hierarchy presented to families, in part due to perceptions that children will find the high-fat/low-carbohydrate regimen unpalatable. This study assessed if children with seizures exhibit food preferences compatible with the diet, as well as if caregivers were accurate in predicting preferences. Children aged 2-17, with (n=29) and without (n=30) a history of seizures, participated in a paired choice food preference assessment while parents estimated child preferences verbally. Children with seizures exhibited significantly higher preferences for fat versus carbohydrate foods compared with controls, and parents demonstrated low accuracy. Future studies could use similar assessment methods to prospectively track whether such preferences predict diet compliance and/or efficacy. Research into the underlying metabolic basis for this preference and possible related neurophysiological mechanisms in seizure etiology and treatment is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Psychology, The Kennedy Krieger Institute, 707 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. Amari@kennedykrieger.org
authors.forename: Adrianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amari
authors.forename: Lynnda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dahlquist
authors.forename: Eric H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Kossoff
authors.forename: Eileen P G
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Vining
authors.forename: William H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Trescher
authors.forename: Keith J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Slifer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D050528:Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted; D018753:Diet, Protein-Restricted; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007657:Ketone Bodies / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D012640:Seizures / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D007657:Ketone Bodies