by Susannah Bryan

Ketogenic diet

What it is:
A high-fat diet that may reduce or stop seizures in some epileptic children who do not respond to drugs. The diet severely restricts proteins and carbohydrates and must be followed for two to three years, according to doctors.

What it does:
The diet induces ketosis, in which the body burns fat for energy instead of proteins and carbohydrates.

Before starting the diet, some doctors require patients to fast for one to three days to use up the body's storage of glucose. Others do not require a fast before beginning the diet. Caloric intake on the diet is restricted to 75 percent of the recommended daily allowance, with 90 percent of calories coming from fat.

Why it works:
No one knows for sure. One theory is that the diet alters brain cell membranes to reduce the number of seizures.

One out of three children stop having seizures after going on the diet, according to estimates. One-third experiences a reduction in seizures, and one-third experiences no change at all.

Caution:
Patients starting the diet should do so under medical supervision in a hospital, where blood sugar and ketone levels can be closely monitored.

The diet calls for whipping creams, butter, mayonnaise and vegetable oils to provide the necessary fat, which makes up 90 percent of the diet.

All foods must be carefully prepared and weighed on a gram scale.

A typical meal:
Cream, 52 grams
Lean ground beef, 24 grams
Apple, 6 grams
Ketchup, 4 grams (about a teaspoon)
Vegetable oil, 18.2 grams
Total Calories: 417

Another meal:
Cream, 53 grams
Skinless chicken breast, 13 grams
Peanut Butter, 7 grams
Celery, 5 grams
Watermelon, 5 grams
Vegetable Oil, 18.6 grams


Source: Miami Children's Hospital, Department of Neurology

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