Ketogenic diet
Another non-invasive strategy to deal with a refractory epilepsy is dietary modification. Ketogenic diet comprises of fats in a ratio of about 90%. Proteins and carbs are in significantly lower proportion. The diet is to be managed strictly by a dietician to work properly.
A high-fat content and low-carbohydrate content initiates a starvation state in the body, this stage has anticonvulsant effects still only partially explained by science.
Due to its restrictive nature, the method is only easy to comply in young infants, who have epilepsy unaffected by drugs. About 50% of children undergoing this treatment report at least reduction of seizures by half. In some case, it may be as effective as eliminating seizures.
For a number of epileptic syndromes in children, the treatment may be initiated within the hospital after a small fasting period. The dietician then controls calories as per body weight of the child. There may still be a need to continue medicines. But diet therapy is reported to have good results, and may lead to decreased drug dose. However, compliance to diet is absolutely essential. Its unpalatable nature has ruled it out as a treatment option in adults and elderly, however, newer palatable modifications are being made to keep the therapy more effective.
Vitamins and minerals are to be kept in careful balance to avoid possible long-term side-effects.
References
- https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Hope-Through-Research/Epilepsies-and-Seizures-Hope-Through
- https://www.aans.org/en/Patients/Neurosurgical-Conditions-and-Treatments/Epilepsy
- https://www.cureepilepsy.org/for-patients/what-is-and-what-causes-epilepsy/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4448698/
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/epilepsy/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20350098#:~:text=Electroencephalogram%20(EEG).,electrical%20activity%20of%20your%20brain.
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2912003/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2912003/