The ketogenic, or keto, diet plan is a very-low-carb, high-fat diet that has actually been revealed to deliver a number of health advantages. Recently, interest in the usage of the keto diet to assist manage specific health conditions in children, consisting of epilepsy and brain cancer, has actually increased. While the keto diet is fairly safe for adults, this might not hold true for kids and teens unless it's recommended by a health specialist for medical factors.
Because the 1920s, the keto diet has actually been used to treat kids and adolescents with refractory epilepsy a seizure condition. Epilepsy is specified as refractory when treatment with at least 2 traditional antiepileptic drugs has stopped working. In a number of research studies in kids with this condition, following a keto diet plan decreased seizure frequency by as much as 50% ().
Nearly all tumors depend on carbs (glucose) for energy. The keto diet plan has actually been said to starve growth cells of the glucose they require, therefore assisting minimize growth size when combined with other forms of treatment (). While several animal studies have been carried out and human studies are ongoing, additional data is required to develop the long-term efficiency of the keto diet plan for dealing with brain cancer in kids.
This includes the customized Atkins diet plan (). While the restorative keto diet plan restricts calories, carbohydrates, and protein, the customized Atkins diet is more liberal when it concerns general calories, fluids, and protein. This permits for more versatility while offering similar advantages (, ). Keto diet plan for epilepsy management, When carrying out the keto diet plan to assist manage epilepsy in children, a specific routine is followed to guarantee consistent outcomes.
Before beginning the diet plan, a signed up dietitian is spoken with to determine the child's dietary needs and develop a meal strategy. Generally, the diet makes up 90% fat, 68% protein, and 24% carbohydrates (). The program frequently starts in a healthcare facility or extensive outpatient setting for the very first 12 weeks. On day one, one-third of the overall calorie objective is achieved, followed by two-thirds on the second day, and 100% on the 3rd day ().