Ketogenic diet for epilepsy patients so that the symptoms do not recur

Epilepsy or epilepsy causes the body to go into spasms until you lose consciousness which can appear at any time. Fortunately, these symptoms can be reduced in frequency by taking medication. In addition, health experts also ask epilepsy patients to undergo a ketogenic diet so that treatment becomes more effective. However, is it really effective? So, what are the guidelines for undergoing this diet? Intrigued by the answer? Let's look at the following reviews.

The ketogenic diet is part of the care for epilepsy patients

Seizures that are a symptom of epilepsy can appear more than once. Some sufferers, may lose consciousness completely when these symptoms last. However, for certain types of epilepsy, the symptoms of seizures that appear may be so brief that sometimes the sufferer does not realize it.

Well, the right way to reduce the frequency of seizures and other symptoms of epilepsy is to require patients to take antiepileptic drugs. Examples of drugs used include sodium valproate, carbamazepine, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, or topiramate. Unfortunately, not all patients respond to these drugs.

If this happens, doctors usually ask epilepsy patients to undergo therapy, one of which is the ketogenic diet. Marcelo Campos, MD, of Harvard Health Publishing states that the ketogenic diet has been used for a long time to treat epilepsy for drug-resistant patients, especially children. This diet is also an alternative treatment for patients who cannot undergo epilepsy surgery.

How effective is the ketogenic diet for epilepsy patients?

Without treatment, incurable epilepsy can be life-threatening. The reason is, this condition can cause complications in the form of brain damage or sudden death.

That is why, if the patient does not respond to epilepsy treatment, the doctor will recommend ketogenic diet therapy. The ketogenic diet itself is a diet low in carbohydrates but high in fat. In this diet, the main energy source which usually comes from carbohydrates is converted into fat.

This condition causes ketosis, which is a condition of the body that lacks carbohydrates as energy fuel. Lack of carbohydrates makes glucose levels fall so that the body begins to break down fat for energy. This process then produces ketones. The more fat used, the more ketones will be produced.

According to studies in journals Frontiers in neuroscience In 2019, research shows that more than 70% of epilepsy patients benefit from this diet. The benefit is that the frequency of epilepsy symptoms, such as seizures, can be reduced.

The mechanism of the benefits of the ketogenic diet for epilepsy patients is not known with certainty. However, several theories suggest that seizures are less likely due to changes in metabolism in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid when the diet is carried out. Another theory states that the results of ketones produced when the diet can help normalize the brain's electrical activity.

Guidelines on the ketogenic diet for epilepsy patients

Despite showing benefits, not all epilepsy patients successfully undergo this diet therapy. For example, people who have an eating disorder or condition that can cause problems if they eat a high dietary amount may not be recommended to go on the keto diet. Likewise in epileptic patients with pancreatic disease, liver problems, thyroid disorders, and who do not have a gallbladder.

In order not to take the wrong steps, follow some guidelines for following the keto diet for people with epilepsy.

1. Follow the keto diet rules properly

The ketogenic diet is applied to epilepsy patients with the rule of 70% to 80% fat, 20% protein, and 5% to 10% carbohydrates.

Under normal circumstances, fat is only needed about 25-40% of calorie needs per day. Meanwhile, in children who have epilepsy, giving fat in a day can reach 80-90% of their needs.

Of course, because it is low in carbohydrates, foods for epilepsy patients such as rice, corn, or potatoes, are no longer in the diet. As a substitute, children with epilepsy will be given side dishes full of fat. This usually includes lots of meat, eggs, sausage, cheese, fish, nuts, butter, oils, whole grains, and fibrous vegetables.

2. Diet application should be supervised by a doctor or nutritionist

The application of a ketogenic diet for epilepsy patients should be carried out under the supervision of a nutritionist. The reason is that the calculation of nutrients in this diet must be done correctly. Especially if the patient has allergies to certain foods, the doctor or nutritionist will help determine food choices that are safe for consumption.

Not only children, this diet can also be applied to babies. It's just that the process of implementing a diet must be closely monitored. First, your little one will give you sugar-free fluids. Within 24 hours, a new diet was started.

Blood sugar will be closely monitored within the first 48 hours after starting the diet and hypoglycemia can occur while starting the keto diet. The need for supplements, such as calcium and vitamins will also be met during the monitoring process.

Side effects of the ketogenic diet in patients with epilepsy

Following this diet prevents the patient from eating an unbalanced diet. As a result, there will be side effects that may occur. Some of the side effects that may be experienced include:

• Low bone density so you are at risk for fractures.
• Constipation (difficulty defecating) due to lack of fiber intake from fruits and vegetables.
• Have high cholesterol levels.
• Stomach pain, headaches, fatigue, and dizziness. This condition is called the "keto flu".
• Experiencing sleep disturbances.
• You don't gain weight, or you lose weight.
• Child growth becomes slower than children his age.
• You are at risk for kidney stones.

The existence of this side effect makes a doctor or health professional need to evaluate and consider which one has many benefits or side effects.