Overall 145 children aged two to 16 took part in the trial. The kids had failed to respond to treatment by two anti-epileptic drugs. Half the children were put on a ketogenic diet where they consumed high levels of fat, low levels of carbohydrates and controlled protein intake.

It seems that ketones that are produced by metabolism of fat in the diet help reduce seizures. In the study children who were put on the diet had a two-thirds reduction i the number of seizures suffered. Children who were not on the ketogenic diet saw no difference in the number of seizures.

"If your epilepsy is easily controlled on one medication then I wouldn't advocate the diet, but if at least two drugs have failed then it should be considered," said study leader Professor Helen Cross, a consultant in neurology at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.

The details of the study are reported in the Lancet Neurology.


Source-Medindia
RAS/M