Ketogenic Diet
Description
Effects and Risks
Nausea/vomiting | Growth failure |
Constipation | Kidney stones |
High cholesterol (which may be reversed when the diet is stopped) |
Osteoporosis |
Hypoproteinemia | Impaired immune response |
Disturbances in liver function | Abnormal heart rhythms |
Hemolytic anemia | Death |
Selection of Patients
Ketogenic Diet Initiation
Discontinuing the Diet
Resources
Information & Support
For Parents and Patients
Ketogenic Diet (Epilepsy Foundation)
Information about the diet (how to begin, what it is like, when to stop), side effects, and medication changes that may be
needed.
Ketogenic Dietary Therapies (Matthew's Friends)
Extensive information about ketogenic therapy, recipes, community, and events.
Ketogenic Therapy (Charlie Foundation)
Information about ketosis, the ketogenic diet, recipes, and support.
Practice Guidelines
Kossoff EH, Zupec-Kania BA, Auvin S, Ballaban-Gil KR, Christina Bergqvist AG, Blackford R, Buchhalter JR, Caraballo RH, Cross
JH, Dahlin MG, Donner EJ, Guzel O, Jehle RS, Klepper J, Kang HC, Lambrechts DA, Liu YMC, Nathan JK, Nordli DR Jr, Pfeifer
HH, Rho JM, Scheffer IE, Sharma S, Stafstrom CE, Thiele EA, Turner Z, Vaccarezza MM, van der Louw EJTM, Veggiotti P, Wheless
JW, Wirrell EC.
Optimal clinical management of children receiving dietary therapies for epilepsy: Updated recommendations of the International
Ketogenic Diet Study Group.
Epilepsia Open.
2018;3(2):175-192.
PubMed abstract / Full Text
Studies
Ketogenic Diet Trial (clinicaltrials.gov)
Studies looking at better understanding, diagnosing, and treating this condition; from the National Library of Medicine.
Helpful Articles
Zupec-Kania B, Zupanc ML.
Long-term management of the ketogenic diet: seizure monitoring, nutrition, and supplementation.
Epilepsia.
2008;49 Suppl 8:23-6.
PubMed abstract
Zupec-Kania BA, Spellman E.
An overview of the ketogenic diet for pediatric epilepsy.
Nutr Clin Pract.
2008;23(6):589-96.
PubMed abstract
Kossoff EH, Dorward JL.
The modified Atkins diet.
Epilepsia.
2008;49 Suppl 8:37-41.
PubMed abstract
Page Bibliography
Groesbeck DK, Bluml RM, Kossoff EH.
Long-term use of the ketogenic diet in the treatment of epilepsy.
Dev Med Child Neurol.
2006;48(12):978-81.
PubMed abstract
Henderson CB, Filloux FM, Alder SC, Lyon JL, Caplin DA.
Efficacy of the ketogenic diet as a treatment option for epilepsy: meta-analysis.
J Child Neurol.
2006;21(3):193-8.
PubMed abstract
Kang HC, Lee HS, You SJ, Kang du C, Ko TS, Kim HD.
Use of a modified Atkins diet in intractable childhood epilepsy.
Epilepsia.
2007;48(1):182-6.
PubMed abstract
Keene DL.
A systematic review of the use of the ketogenic diet in childhood epilepsy.
Pediatr Neurol.
2006;35(1):1-5.
PubMed abstract
Kossoff EH, Dorward JL.
The modified Atkins diet.
Epilepsia.
2008;49 Suppl 8:37-41.
PubMed abstract
Kossoff EH, Zupec-Kania BA, Auvin S, Ballaban-Gil KR, Christina Bergqvist AG, Blackford R, Buchhalter JR, Caraballo RH, Cross
JH, Dahlin MG, Donner EJ, Guzel O, Jehle RS, Klepper J, Kang HC, Lambrechts DA, Liu YMC, Nathan JK, Nordli DR Jr, Pfeifer
HH, Rho JM, Scheffer IE, Sharma S, Stafstrom CE, Thiele EA, Turner Z, Vaccarezza MM, van der Louw EJTM, Veggiotti P, Wheless
JW, Wirrell EC.
Optimal clinical management of children receiving dietary therapies for epilepsy: Updated recommendations of the International
Ketogenic Diet Study Group.
Epilepsia Open.
2018;3(2):175-192.
PubMed abstract / Full Text
Wirrell E, Eckert S, Wong-Kisiel L, Payne E, Nickels K.
Ketogenic Diet Therapy in Infants: Efficacy and Tolerability.
Pediatr Neurol.
2018;82:13-18.
PubMed abstract