Title

Medium-chain triglyceride ketogenic diet for drugresistant epilepsy in Taiwan: A prospective study in a single center.

Authors

Yi-Shan Wang; Meng-Ying Hsieh; Po-Cheng Hung; Min-Liang Chou; Jainn-Jim Lin; I-Jun Chou; Wan-Ling Huang; Huei-Shyong Wang; Kuang-Lin Lin

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine the efficacy of a medium-chain triglyceride ketogenic diet on patients with drug-resistant epilepsy over a period of 1 year and 8 months. Methods: Patients with refractory epilepsy on a medium-chain triglyceride ketogenic diet were prospectively enrolled. Their clinical condition and the effectiveness of the ketogenic diet were followed-up every month for 1 year. Adverse events and the reasons for discontinuing the diet were recorded. Results: Fifty-three patients (27 males and 26 females) were enrolled. At the end of the study, 21 patients remained on the diet, 14 of whom were followed-up for 1 year. Among the 53 patients, 22.6% had a more than 50% reduction in seizure frequency, and 16.9% became seizure-free. Conclusions: After a 1-year follow-up, the use of a medium-chain triglyceride ketogenic diet for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy was found to be a safe and effective therapy, and may be considered to bean alternative for patients with difficult-to-control seizures in children as well as young adults.

Subjects

TRIGLYCERIDES; KETOGENIC diet; DRUG efficacy; TREATMENT of epilepsy; DRUG resistance

Publication

Neurology Asia, 2016, Vol 21, Issue 4, p341

ISSN

1823-6138

Publication type

Academic Journal