Epilepsy is the most common neurological disorder. Most patients respond well to medication that reduces the frequency of epileptic seizures.2 However, 20-30% of children with epilepsy don't see any improvements with anti-epileptic drugs and many find the side effects of treatment difficult to cope with.3
The power of a ketogenic diet
For patients with refractory epilepsy (epilepsy that doesn’t respond to medication), a ketogenic diet can provide a way forward. Research shows that this high fat, low carbohydrate, adequate protein diet can help to control seizures, when used under medical supervision.4-8 A ketogenic diet effectively changes the body’s metabolism, using ketones from fat as the main source of energy rather than glucose from carbohydrate. This change in metabolism is thought to be one of the key reasons the ketogenic diet works to reduce seizure activity9.
Healthcare professionals can prescribe Nutricia’s comprehensive line of ketogenic medical foods to help make the ketogenic diet easier for adults and children living with epilepsy, and their families. Fewer seizures make for a better quality of life, and we are researching new ketogenic products to help make an even bigger difference to the people who need it.
Healthcare professionals can prescribe Nutricia’s comprehensive line of ketogenic medical foods to help make the ketogenic diet easier for adults and children living with epilepsy, and their families. Fewer seizures make for a better quality of life, and we are researching new ketogenic products to help make an even bigger difference to the people who need it.
We are working with hospitals and charities to try and support more children getting access to those benefits and in turn a better quality of life
In addition to our KetoCal products, we support patients on the ketogenic diet and their families by holding events where they can meet, share experiences and swap ideas. We publish recipe books and run cookery classes to make mealtimes easier, and we are developing online diet management tools. We also support Matthew’s Friends, a charity that specialises in providing support for patients on ketogenic dietary therapies. We work with them to raise awareness about the ketogenic diet, so that more families can access the information and resources on offer.
Important notice: All KetoCal products are Foods for Special Medical Purposes for the dietary management of Drug-resistant Epilepsy, and must be used under medical supervision.
References
- Joint Epilepsy Council of the UK and Ireland, 2011 Report: Epilepsy prevalence, incidence and other statistics accessed 13/10/2016.
- Stafstrom C et al. Epilepsy and the ketogenic diet. 2004. Humana Press. Totowa.
- Kwan P et al. Early identification of refractory epilepsy. N Engl J Med 2000:342;314-319.
- Freeman J et al. The ketogenic diet: a treatment for epilepsy in children and others. 2007. 4th ed. Demos, New York.
- Neal EG et al. Lancet Neurol 2008;7:500-506.
- Keene DL. Ped Neurol. 2006;35(1):1-3.
- Henderson GB et al. J Child Neurol 2006;21 (3):193-198.
- Kossoff EH et al. Epilepsia 2009:febr50(2)304-317.
- Levy R, Cooper P. Update in Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;3:CD001903.
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