Abstracts

The objective of this study is to examine the growth status of children post-treatment with the ketogenic diet. The ketogenic diet is one of the most effective therapies for intractable seizures in the pediatric population. There are 5 articles that reported ketogenic diet patients[apos] growth status, but there is no study that examines the children[apos]s growth status post-ketogenic diet. Retrospective chart review for 16 patients, (8 boys, 8 girls) (last day on diet age: 2.9 to 13.2 years old, mean[plusmn]SD: 7.9[plusmn]3.4) with epilepsy post ketogenic diet. The participants included children from the neurology clinic at the Hospital for Sick Children and the complex epilepsy clinic at the Bloorview MacMillan Children[apos]s Centre both in Toronto, Ontario. Weights, height, percentile of the weight, percentile of the height, ideal body weight and percentage of ideal body weight were compared to determine their growth status. A Wilcoxon signed ranks test was used Comparing percentile heights and weights at follow up vs. heights and weights pre-diets. The charts were reviewed for their first follow-up visit (mean[plusmn]SD: 9[plusmn]7 months) post ketogenic diet treatment. Percentile heights and weights were not significantly different from the baseline measurements (Z = -1.01, p = 0.312, and Z = -1.157, p = 0.247, ns, respectively). There were 14 patients that came back for a second follow-up visit (mean[plusmn]SD: 13.8[plusmn]11.8 months) post ketogenic diet treatment. Both their heights (Z = -2.041, p = 0.041) and their weights (Z = -2.091, p = 0.037) showed significant increases from baseline. Therefore, it appears that their growth has resumed. Although the ketogenic diet slows down children[apos]s growth, the children show significant growth within 14 months of termination of the diet. Therefore, the decreased growth while on the diet is a temporary effect.