Keto Diet & its Effect on Epilepsy

Ketogenic diet therapy (KDT) is currently regarded an evidence-based treatment for epilepsy and is safe and tolerated for children, one hundred years after it was first used to treat epilepsy. The significance of ketosis in lowering the number and severity of seizures is now much better understood by researchers.

What is the mechanism behind it? Because of the abundance of ketone bodies and the scarcity of glucose, certain neuronal connections (called glutamatergic synaptic transmissions) are disrupted, glucose production is inhibited, and potassium channels are activated, which helps to control muscle spasms.

What is the efficacy of the ketogenic diet in terms of seizure control? The ketogenic diet's impact on children with epilepsy was studied in a meta-analysis. According to the study, newborns on the ketogenic diet for more than one month had up to a 50% reduction in epileptic attacks, and 33% of infants had no seizures after being on the ketogenic diet.