Abstracts

Previous literature has shown conflicting results on whether patients can continue to grow and develop age-appropriately while on a ketogenic diet regimen that produces effective seizure control. Previously, it has been thought that children maintained on a ketogenic diet would experience a decline in growth rate while on the diet.
Charts were reviewed for all patients that initiated on the ketogenic diet in our clinical program between January of 1999 and January of 2003. Only patients on the diet for at least six months were included in the study, to allow analysis of growth over a substantial period of time. Growth parameters, serum protein, albumen, pre-albumen levels, beta-hydroxybutyrate levels and seizure frequency were assessed at standard follow-up visits.
Between 1999-2003, our clinic initiated 87 children on the ketogenic diet, with 55 continuing on the diet for at least 6 months. Seizures were significantly decreased in all children continuing on the diet, and over 1/3 became seizure-free. Growth parameters remained within 1 standard deviation of personal growth curve for ~90% of these children. For those who deviated, diets were adjusted accordingly and the efficacy of the diet was maintained.
We suggest that children can obtain optimal seizure control while maintaining adequate growth and protein stores while on the ketogenic diet. In our series, nearly all of the children remaining on the diet for six months experienced a significant improvement in seizure frequency, with over 1/3 becoming seizure-free, and about 90% of these children remained on target for growth parameters.