Scientists have conducted the first clinical trial of a novel dietary treatment for children and adults with severe forms of epilepsy. This is based on a ketogenic diet, for which clinicians evaluated the use of an oral liquid nutritional supplement. Theketogenic dietconsists of a high-fat, low-carbohydrate and sufficient protein intake. This diet mimics fasting by altering metabolism to use body fat as the primary source of energy. In addition, medical professionals often use such diet plans to treat drug-resistant epilepsy.
How dietary treatment affects epileptic seizures
However, the highly restrictive diet, which can also lead to constipation, low blood sugar and stomach problems, often has side effects. Accordingly, this diet is not suitable for everyone. Accordingly, when developing a new treatment, the researchers tried toKetogenic diet caused side effectsto reduce. The ketogenic diet has been used to treat epilepsy for 100 years. It helps reduce seizures in both children and adults. The study authors now believe that the increase in the fatty acid, decanoic acid, which is also produced through diet, may have the powerful antispasmodic effect. A total of 35 children aged 3 to 18 years with genetic epilepsy who were known not to respond to medication and 26 adults with drug-resistant epilepsy were given liquid supplements as a drink to be taken with food.
Over three-quarters of participants reported positively on sensory attributes such as taste, texture and appearance, as well as ease of use. Regarding the secondary endpoints, there was an average of 50% reduction in seizures or paroxysmal events. Less than 10% of people receiving such a dietary treatment produced significant ketones. In addition, the study authors did not observe high levels of ketones in over 90% of the subjects. This suggests that the effect of the diet was positive regardless of ketosis. This novel nutritional approach to treating epilepsy involves adhering to the principles of a healthy, balanced diet. The method also requires much less involvement from a specialized dietitian than traditional ketogenic diets. This way you couldthe present studyenable wider access to people with drug-resistant epilepsy. However, further research is needed to determine the exact epilepsies and conditions for which the supplement is most effective.
