Ketogenic Diet Essay

P104 (310)

Growth and Nutritional Status of Children with Epilepsy on Ketogenic Diet: A Preliminary Prospective Long-term Study
Yeou-mei Christiana Liu1 ([e-mail]), Elke Sengmueller2, and Rosalind Curtis1 1The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto and Bloorview Macmillan Children’s Centre, Toronto and 2Ketogenic Diet Program, Bloorview Site, Bloorview Macmillan Children’s Centre, 25 Buchan Court, Willowdale, Ontario, Canada M2J 4S9 Background: The ketogenic diet is one of the most effective therapies for intractable seizure for the paediatric population. Although the beneficial effects of the diet are well-known, potential suboptimal growth and nutritional risks of the diet have been evaluated by limited research articles only.
All children had failed at least two anticonvulsant. Weight, height, and biochemical indices were obtained at pre-diet, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, and 24 months of the study. Results: In classic ketogenic diet groups with 19 participants, there were, on average, 2.4 cm (2.6%) of height increase and 0.9 kg (0.05%) of weight increase at 6 months on the diet; 5.3 cm (6.2%) of height increase and 1.2 kg (0.1%) of weight increase at 12 months with 11 (58%) participants; 4.6 cm (4.7%) of height increase and 2.5 kg (0.17%) of weight increase at 18 months with 5 (26%) participants; and 8.1 cm (8%) of height increase and 3.8 kg (0.24%) of weight increase at 24 months with 2 (11%) participants. In MCT ketogenic diet group with 6 participants, there were, on average, 1.3 cm (1.3%) of height increase and 1.2 kg (0.08%) of weight decrease at 6 months on the diet since some children were over-weight pre-diet; 3.1 cm (3.1%) of height increase and 1.19 kg (0.02%) of weight decrease at 12 months with 5 (83%) participants; 6 cm (6%) of height increase and 1.54 kg (0.09%) of weight increase at 18 months with 4