What is a ketogenic diet, and why is it used?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

A ketogenic diet severely limits food sources of carbohydrates and increases fat content but is adequate in energy and protein. Vitamins and minerals have to be added as supplements because the allowed food sources of carbohydrates are not sufficient to meet vitamin and mineral requirements. The ketogenic diet may allow seizure medications to be reduced or eliminated over time. Growth during the time on a ketogenic diet may be different from that seen in the child's previous pattern. Some children improve in both weight and height when seizure activity declines. The ketogenic diet is so high in fat that some children gain weight faster than expected. This diet is generally recommended for two years, if it is effective in reducing seizures, to optimize its effectiveness. For reasons that remain unknown, seizures decrease when brain metabolism is switched from the usual fuel, glucose, to ketones from fat metabolism. Therefore, specialty neurology clinics administer the ketogenic diet for uncontrolled seizures.