The Ketogenic Diet and Epilepsy
Recently, the ketogenic diet (high fat, low carbs) has become an alternative treatment for epilepsy. It is a more natural and holistic approach to help those who don’t respond to pharmaceutical intervention.
Around 65 million people in the world are believed to have epilepsy. In America around 2.3 million adults and 1/2 million children are currently affected. Every year about 150,000 new cases are added.
This means that as many as one out of every 26 people in America will at some time be diagnosed with epilepsy. Every year the disease costs about $15.5 billion in medical expenses and loss of productivity and earnings.
In the 2010 New England Journal of Medicine, it was reported that 30% to 35% of epileptics are resistant to some extent to treatment. Those most at risk are children suffering from epilepsy who have an increased chance of death, if their disease is not controlled within five years.
Treatment for epilepsy includes a variety of prescriptions, sometimes even a combination of medications. And as a last resort, surgery may be required. If the patient’s condition has not improved using other therapy a change in diet may also be indicated.
What is Epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that is marked by misfires of the activity in the brain.
The only symptom that is visible with this disorder are seizures. Basically these are like an electrical storm or short circuit in the brain. Seizures occur on a sudden sporadic basis. They can last a few seconds to a few minutes.
There are different kinds of seizures. When the brain activity gets off track behavior problems may result. Sometimes even the loss of consciousness or the loss of memory may take place.
Seizures can even cause convulsions (involuntary movements).
A generalized sure means the entire brain is involved. A partial or focal seizure is when the seizure starts in a specific part of the brain.
There are many causes of epilepsy including brain injury, infection, brain tumor, stroke and genetic defects or conditions. In many cases, the exact cause cannot be determined.
The Ketogenic Diet as a Treatment for Epilepsy?
For centuries the only treatment for epilepsy were some ineffective bromides of various types. In 1912, phenobarbital was the first real anti-epileptic drug developed.
In 1920, Dr. Bernarr Macfadden, spoke at an American Medical Association convention. He reported his success in treating epilepsy with a fasting diet. He called this diet the “ketogenic” diet.
Medical research studies done throughout the 1920’s validated keto as a diet therapy for treating seizures. Most of the research involved children.
More recently Maryland researchers published a meta-analysis of keto dieting as a treatment for epilepsy in The Journal of Neurology (JON). It termed a ketogenic diet “profoundly helpful” in treating both adults and children.
The JON research estimated that in 32% of the patients there was a 50% reduction in the number of seizures who consumed a high fat, and low carbohydrate diet. About 10% of those patients had a 90% reduction of seizures.
How Does Keto Work?
Science has completely validated Dr. Macfaddens’ findings on the effectiveness of ketogenic eating. The basic premise is that when you reduce carbohydrates and sugars and you increase “good” dietary fats it creates the state of ketosis.
In ketogenic between 65% to 75% of calories come from fat. The study pointed out that the anti-seizure effect usually occurs within days, when a low-grade ketosis is present.
Ketosis is a metabolic state brought on by fasting. During ketosis the body uses ketones and body fat instead of carbs for fuel. This alternative energy also powers the brain. When the body manufactures ketones it has a positive effect on neurological function. It cleans up neurotoxicity and solves the disconnection problem.
Ketosis works directly on the neurotransmitters and ion channels in the brain to increase function. Basically it is opening up the short circuited part of the brain that causes seizures. A ketone fueled brain provides enhancements that don’t always work with prescription medications.
The ketogenic diet has also proven to have positive results in treating other mental and brain disorders; such as Parkinson’s, ALS, autism, depression, bipolar and ADHD. Most neurological diseases have been linked to neurotoxicity.
A classic ketogenic diet works in three primary ways to create an anti-seizure effect. First, it restricts calories which seems to reduce the incidence of epileptic episodes. Second, it produces ketones which has a positive effect on ATP sensitive ion channels in the brain. Third, it lowers blood glucose levels to calm the neurons.
The state of ketosis is a vital part of the treatment of epilepsy. But, a ketogenic diet also eliminates sugar and grains which is can benefit the treatment of blood conditions, as well.
What About Side Effects?
Actually, researchers found that the most common result of keto eating was weight-loss. In many cases, this is not an unhealthy side effect. In fact, it can be another health benefit for patients with obesity.
There are many side-effects to standard antiepileptic drugs that are currently on the market. None of them are healthy.
Since these medications are designed to work on the neurological and central nervous systems they can cause dizziness, drowsiness, and mood swings (especially depression). The possible side effects vary with the specific anti-seizure drug.
Diamox can cause kidney stones and frequent urination. Benzodiazepines can cause seizures and breathing issues if you stop taking them suddenly.They have also been linked with liver damage and glaucoma. Tegretol and Zaratonin can result in blood and skin disorders that may be fatal.
Ketosis’ main side effect of fat burning weight loss sounds pretty good in comparison to the many possible drug effects. And a ketogenic diet has some amazing positive side effects on the brain. It lowers the risk of seizures and improves neuronal recovery.
Around the world the ketogenic diet is being used more for treating epilepsy. There are 200+ hospitals using ketogenic eating programs for therapy. Many of them are in America where Dr. Macfadden worked for years to develop the ketogenic theories that effectively treat epilepsy.
Resources:
The Charlie Foundation for Ketogenic Therapies
“Dietary treatments in adults with refractory epilepsy” Neurology, Authors: Pavel Klein, Ivana Tyrlikova, Gregory C. Mathews http://www.drperlmutter.com/study/dietary-treatment-adults-refractory-epilepsy/