Patient's question:
My daughter suffers from epilepsy. She has been treated in many hospitals for a long time, but it hasn't been cured. Some doctors suggested that I try a ketogenic diet for my child, saying that this therapy can be effective for some refractory epilepsy. Is this true? What exactly is a ketogenic diet?Doctor's answer:
The so-called ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate, and low-protein diet. Some studies have shown that the ketogenic diet is effective in 50% of children with refractory epilepsy (reducing seizures by more than 50%), and another 30% of children can experience a 90% reduction in seizures as a result. This is because, during the ketogenic diet, fat serves as the body's primary energy source, and the intermediate metabolites of fat breakdown, ketone bodies (acetone, acetoacetate, and β-hydroxybutyrate), have an inhibitory effect on seizures. The ketogenic diet is mainly suitable for patients with refractory epilepsy or those who cannot tolerate medication side effects or surgery. It should be noted that patients or families who are not cooperative are not suitable for the ketogenic diet treatment, as this treatment requires close cooperation among neurologists, nutritionists, and parents.