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Assessing the Efficacy of Antiepileptic Treatments: The Ketogenic Diet
Author(s) -
Thiele Elizabeth A.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1046/j.1528-1157.44.s7.4.x
Subject(s) - ketogenic diet , tolerability , epilepsy , medicine , pediatrics , retrospective cohort study , adverse effect , psychiatry
Summary: Purpose: To evaluate the evidence for determining if the ketogenic diet is an effective treatment for epilepsy. Methods: A literature review of published data over the past 80 years concerning the ketogenic diet was performed, focusing on efficacy, tolerability, age of patient population, as well as study design. Results: There have been several studies involving prospective and retrospective studies showing the ketogenic diet to be a very efficacious treatment in epilepsy, particularly epilepsy in childhood. However, no Class 1 studies have been published concerning the efficacy of the ketogenic diet. Conclusions: The ketogenic diet appears to be a very effective treatment for epilepsy, particularly in childhood. It would be beneficial to have Class 1 studies available to help better define the role of the diet both in children and adults.