Ketogenic diet therapies: treatment for children and adults with refractory epilepsy

This dissertation examines whether a ketogenic diet (KD) is an effective treatment option for children, teens and adults with refractory epilepsy. KD consists of a high-fat, low-carb diet. The breakdown of fats releases ketones that the brain uses as a source of energy instead of carbohydrates.

Based on the research results, it can be concluded that KD is an effective treatment that can decrease the total number of attacks, the number of cluster attacks and the severity of the attacks. Gastrointestinal issues are the most troubling symptom and tend to occur during the early stages of treatment.

KD is well-tolerated with prolonged use. However, adults find it more difficult to follow the diet strictly. Incidentally, an EEG in individual patients is not an accurate predictor of who will benefit from this diet.