Impact of a Modified Ketogenic Diet on Seizure Activity, Biochemical Markers, Anthropometrics and Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Adults with Epilepsy

The classic low-carbohydrate, high-fat ketogenic diet (KD) effectively reduces seizure frequency in children with epilepsy. However, limited studies have been conducted in adults with a modified KD that liberalizes daily carbohydrate (CHO) quantity. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the impact of a modified KD on seizure activity, biochemical markers, anthropometrics, and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in adults with epilepsy. Enrolled patients from the Rush University Medical Center Clinic for Dietary Treatment of Epilepsy followed a modified KD of 15–50 net g of CHO/d for three months. Two 24-hour dietary recalls (ASA24), seizure frequency, laboratory and anthropometric measures, and GI symptoms (Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale, ranging 1 [no discomfort] to 7 [very severe discomfort]) were obtained at baseline and three months. Twelve of 31 enrolled participants followed up with dietary data at three months. These participants were primarily white (67.7%), female (50.0%), age...