Abstract

KETOGENIC DIET IN EPILEPSY

Vijitha Raj*, Sowparnika Treasa Sabu and Prof. Dr. Shaiju S. Dharan

Abstract

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder in which brain activity becomes abnormal, causing seizures, sensations, and sometimes loss of awareness. Epilepsy affects both males and females of all races, ethnic backgrounds and ages. A seizure can occur when there is a disruption in the balance between the neurotransmitters in the brain, particularly due to the over-excitation of the nerves and excessive nervous messages being fired. Epilepsy usually treated with medication such as nerve pin medication, sedative & anticonvulsants and in some cases by surgery, dietary changes. The ketogenic diet (KD) is a high fat, low carbohydrate, controlled protein diet that has been used since the 1920s for the treatment of epilepsy. The CKD is rich in lipids and low in carbohydrates and protein, in order to produce ketosis, and simulates a starvation state. The ketone bodies and polyunsaturated fatty acids presumably play a major role in the anticonvulsant effect of ketogenic diet. Ketogenic diet participates in various mechanisms i.e. regulation of neurotransmitters, limiting glycolysis pathway, tri-carboxylic-acid cycle and oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acid; induces the anti-seizures responses. But continues and very strict adherence to ketogenic diet causes some adverse effects on human body disrupting the normal mechanism of body.

Keywords: Epilepsy, seizure, ketogenic diet.