title: The effects of classic ketogenic diet on serum lipid profile in children with refractory seizures.
abstract: More than 25 % of children with epilepsy develop refractory seizures unresponsive to both old and new generation anticonvulsants. Since such seizures have a serious negative impact on the quality of life, other treatment options are considered. The ketogenic diet is a well-known treatment for managing refractory seizures, although its mechanism of action is unknown. Studies have shown that this diet is as good as, or better than, any of the newer medications in reducing seizure frequency. However, concerns about adverse effects have been raised. We conducted an open label trial to show the effects of this diet on serum lipid profile. Thirty-three children with refractory epilepsy were treated with the ketogenic diet and were followed for 6 months. Their serum lipid profile was assessed at baseline, and at 3 and 6 months after initiating the diet. Seizure frequency was reduced in 63 % of children (no seizures in 2/33 and reduced >50 % in 19/33). However, after 6 months of administering the diet, median triglyceride was significantly increased (from 84 to 180 mg/dl, P < 0.001), median total cholesterol was significantly increased (from 180 to 285 mg/dl, P < 0.001), median serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was significantly increased (from 91 to 175 mg/dl, P < 0.001), and median serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was significantly increased (from 51 to 58 mg/dl, P < 0.001). Results of this study indicate that a classic ketogenic diet in children with refractory seizures is effective in seizure reduction, but leads to development of hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia.
authors.affiliation: Paediatrics Centre of Excellence, Department of Paediatric Neurology, Children's Medical Centre, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Gholam Reza
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Zamani
authors.affiliation: Paediatrics Centre of Excellence, Department of Paediatric Neurology, Children's Medical Centre, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
authors.affiliation: Paediatrics Centre of Excellence, Department of Paediatric Neurology, Children's Medical Centre, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmoud Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ashrafi
authors.affiliation: Paediatrics Centre of Excellence, Department of Paediatric Neurology, Children's Medical Centre, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Parviz
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Karimi
authors.affiliation: Paediatrics Centre of Excellence, Department of Paediatric Neurology, Children's Medical Centre, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahmoudi
authors.affiliation: Paediatrics Centre of Excellence, Department of Paediatric Neurology, Children's Medical Centre, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza Shervin
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Badv
authors.affiliation: Paediatrics Centre of Excellence, Department of Paediatric Neurology, Children's Medical Centre, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Tavassoli
authors.affiliation: Paediatrics Centre of Excellence, Department of Paediatric Neurology, Children's Medical Centre, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. azizi.ramin@gmail.com.|Department of Paediatric Neurology, Golestan Medical, Educational, and Research Centre, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, # 90, Golestan Blvd., P. O. Box 6135733118, Ahvaz, Iran. azizi.ramin@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Azizi Malamiri
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D055423:Diet, Ketogenic; D000069279:Drug Resistant Epilepsy / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012640:Seizures / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy*
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids
keywords: Children; Ketogenic diet; Refractory seizures; Serum lipid profile