Ketogenic Diet

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Latest Edit: Hector 2014-03-13 (EDT)

See Also Naturopathic Therapies
See Also Clinical Nutrition


The ketogenic diet was developed in 1921 to help control seizures in children who failed to respond to anticonvulsant medications.[1] This diet forces the body to burn fats rather than carbohydrates.

Article The Ketogenic Diet, NDNR [1], 2012 January

Guidelines

The ketogenic diet involves:

  1. calorie-restricted diet with a fat to carbohydrate + protein ratio ranging from 2:1 to 5:1.
  2. restricted fluid intake

Uses

  • The ketogenic diet can be considered an option for children with intractable epilepsy who use multiple antiepileptic drugs. It is a treatment of choice for seizures associated with glucose transporter protein deficiency syndrome (ie, De Vivo disease) and pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency.[1], [2]
  • The ketogenic diet may benefit a wide variety of neurological diseases, including epilepsy, headache, neurotrauma, Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, sleep disorders, brain cancer, autism, pain, and multiple sclerosis.[3]
  • A combined ketogenic, Mediterranean diet and one with phytoextracts and low carbohydrates/high-protein leads to weight reduction, improvements in cardiovascular risk markers and reduction in waist circumference.[4]

Cautions

  • Those undergoing the ketogenic diet must be monitor by a practitioner experienced in its use.
  • Initiation of the diet may cause vomiting, hypoglycemia, or dehydration.
  • Long-term problems may include moderate growth retardation, gallstones, acidosis or metabolic abnormalities, recurrent infections, hypercholesterolemia, hyperuricemia, vitamin deficiency, and feeding problems.
  • The ketogenic diet and anticonvulsant drugs have both been found to have an adverse effect on bone density.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Gaby, AR (2011) Nutritional Medicine. Fritz Perlberg Publishing.
  2. Rogovik AL, Goldman RD (Jun 2010) Ketogenic diet for treatment of epilepsy. Can Fam Physician.;56(6):540-2. PMID: 20547519.
  3. Stafstrom CE, Rho JM (2012) The ketogenic diet as a treatment paradigm for diverse neurological disorders. Front Pharmacol.;3:59. PMID: 22509165.
  4. Paoli A, Cenci L, Grimaldi KA (Oct 2011) Effect of ketogenic Mediterranean diet with phytoextracts and low carbohydrates/high-protein meals on weight, cardiovascular risk factors, body composition and diet compliance in Italian council employees. Nutr J.;10:112. PMID: 21992535.