Assessing the efficacy of antiepileptic treatments: the ketogenic diet.

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.