The\u00a0ketogenic diet\u00a0is a high-fat, adequate-protein,\u00a0low-carbohydrate diet\u00a0that in medicine is used primarily to treat difficult-to-control (refractory)\u00a0epilepsy\u00a0in children. The diet forces the body to burn fats rather than\u00a0carbohydrates.<\/p>\n
Normally, the carbohydrates contained in food are converted into\u00a0glucose, which is then transported around the body and is particularly important in\u00a0fueling brain-function.<\/p>\n
However, if there is very little carbohydrate in the diet, the\u00a0liver\u00a0converts\u00a0fat\u00a0into\u00a0fatty acids\u00a0and\u00a0ketone bodies. The ketone bodies<\/strong> pass into the brain and replace glucose<\/strong> as an energy source. An elevated level of ketone bodies in the blood, a state known as\u00a0ketosis, leads to a reduction in the frequency of\u00a0epileptic seizures.<\/p>\n Almost half of children, and young people, with epilepsy who have tried some form of this diet saw the number of seizures drop by at least half, and the effect persists even after discontinuing the diet.<\/p>\n There is some evidence that adults with epilepsy may benefit from the diet, and that a less strict regimen, such as a modified\u00a0Atkins diet, is similarly effective.\u00a0The most common adverse effect is constipation, affecting about 30% of patients\u2014this was due to fluid restriction, which was once a feature of the diet, but this led to increased risk of\u00a0kidney stones, and is no longer considered beneficial.<\/p>\n Almost half of children, and young people, with epilepsy who have tried some form of this diet saw the number of seizures drop by at least half, and the effect persists even after discontinuing the diet.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nBenefits of Ketogenic diet<\/h2>\n
Revival of the diet<\/h3>\n