The effect and Long-term retention rate of ketogenic diet in Chinese patients

Author: DENG Yu Hong
Co-authors ZHOU Jin-Hua, LI Bing-Mei, LIU Xiao-Rong, LIAO Wei-Ping

Changgang Dong road 250, haiZhu, Guangzhou, GuangDong, P.R China,510260

Keyword 1 ketogenic diet Keyword 2 refractory epilepsy Keyword 3 effect
Keyword 4 retention rate

Objective: To evaluate the effect and long-term retention of ketogenic diet (KD) in add-on therapy for refractory epilepsy patients with Chinese eating habits.

Methods: 28 Chinese patients with refractory epilepsy were recruited in one and half a year. In the first three months, there were no changes of the anti-epilepsy drug. All patients were hospitalized and started with fat / (protein + carbohydrates) = 4:1 diet, then maintained the 4:1 diet after discharged. According to the recruiting day, the follow-up period persist from 3 months to 12 months. The retention rate, the efficacy and the incidence of side effects on specific follow-up time point were observed.

Results: On the third month, 68% of patients reduced >50% seizures, 43% (12/28) of patients reduced >90% seizures, 11% were seizure-free. The retention rate was 68% (19/28) at the third month, while it was 43% (10/23) at the sixth month and 28% (5 /18) at the twelfth year. The major side effect s in the first two weeks included gastrointestinal reactions, ketoacidosis and low glucose; the major side effects in the persistence period were constipation, hyperlipidemia, and hypoalbuminemia. Only one patient withdrew the diet due to side effects.

Conclusions: KD in Chinese refractory epilepsy patients is highly effective, but the long-term retention rate is low probably related to the Chinese eating habits. Better implementation needs to be further studied.