The Ketogenic Diet in Pediatric Epilepsy

Abstract

Although the ketogenic diet (KD) was first proposed as treatment for epilepsy in 1921, it fell into disuse with the advent of commercially available antiepileptic medications. Over the past decade, there has been renewed interest in the KD for those patients whose epilepsy is refractory to standard anticonvulsant therapy. Although the KD has met with some success, effectiveness depends on a working knowledge of the diet by all health care providers, proper patient selection, and strict adherence to the diet by the patient, patient's family, and those interacting with the child (ie, bus drivers, teachers, and friends). Although the classical KD has existed for >75 years, the exact mechanism of action remains elusive. Likewise, little information exists to serve as a guideline for newcomers to this therapeutic modality. The purpose of this article is to provide health care professionals with practical knowledge concerning the KD and its role in the treatment of epilepsy.