Blood beta-hydroxybutyrate correlates better with seizure reduction due to ketogenic diet than do ketones in the urine.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether it is better to use blood beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) or urinary ketones to monitor ketogenic diet (KD).


METHODS
In 33 patients on KD we measured ketosis in two different ways. At the 3-monthly visits to the clinic we measured BHB in capillary blood obtained by finger-prick and the level of ketones in the urine using a urine dipstick. If the patient was able to collect urine, the urinary ketones were also measured every day at home. We compared the degree of ketosis with seizure reduction.


RESULTS
BHB measured during the 3-monthly visits correlated with seizure reduction at 3 and 6 months (p=0.037 and 0.019, respectively). Urinary ketones measured at the same time did not correlate at any visit. The averaged values of the daily measured ketones in the urine did not correlate either.


CONCLUSIONS
BHB correlates better with seizure reduction than do ketones in urine. It is, therefore, better to use BHB to monitor KD even if BHB is measured less frequently than urinary ketones.
van Delft
Renske
R
Epilepsy Centre Kempenhaeghe, Department of Neurology, Heeze, The Netherlands.
Lambrechts
Danielle
D
Verschuure
Pauline
P
Hulsman
Jacques
J
Majoie
Marian
M
D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid / Q000097:blood*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D055423:Diet, Ketogenic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007659:Ketones / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012640:Seizures / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000652:urine; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D007659:Ketones; D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid