A randomised trial of a medium-chain TAG diet as treatment for dogs with idiopathic epilepsy.

Abstract

Despite appropriate antiepileptic drug treatment, approximately one-third of humans and dogs with epilepsy continue experiencing seizures, emphasising the importance for new treatment strategies to improve the quality of life of people or dogs with epilepsy. A 6-month prospective, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled cross-over dietary trial was designed to compare a ketogenic medium-chain TAG diet (MCTD) with a standardised placebo diet in chronically antiepileptic drug-treated dogs with idiopathic epilepsy. Dogs were fed either MCTD or placebo diet for 3 months followed by a subsequent respective switch of diet for a further 3 months. Seizure frequency, clinical and laboratory data were collected and evaluated for twenty-one dogs completing the study. Seizure frequency was significantly lower when dogs were fed the MCTD (2·31/month, 0-9·89/month) in comparison with the placebo diet (2·67/month, 0·33-22·92/month, P=0·020); three dogs achieved seizure freedom, seven additional dogs had ≥50 % reduction in seizure frequency, five had an overall <50 % reduction in seizures (38·87 %, 35·68-43·27 %) and six showed no response. Seizure day frequency were also significantly lower when dogs were fed the MCTD (1·63/month, 0-7·58/month) in comparison with the placebo diet (1·69/month, 0·33-13·82/month, P=0·022). Consumption of the MCTD also resulted in significant elevation of blood β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations in comparison with placebo diet (0·071 (sd 0·035) v. 0·053 (sd 0·028) mmol/l, P=0·028). There were no significant changes in serum concentrations of glucose (P=0·903), phenobarbital (P=0·422), potassium bromide (P=0·404) and weight (P=0·300) between diet groups. In conclusion, the data show antiepileptic properties associated with ketogenic diets and provide evidence for the efficacy of the MCTD used in this study as a therapeutic option for epilepsy treatment.

• Authors: Tsz Hong Law, Emma S S Davies, Yuanlong Pan, Brian Zanghi, Elizabeth Want, Holger A Volk
• Journal: The British journal of nutrition (Br J Nutr) Vol. 114 Issue 9 Pg. 1438-47 (11 14 2015) ISSN: 1475-2662 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 26337751 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anticonvulsants
• Blood Glucose
• Bromides
• Potassium Compounds
• Triglycerides
• potassium bromide
• 3-Hydroxybutyric Acid
• Phenobarbital

Topics

• 3-Hydroxybutyric Acid (blood)
• Animals
• Anticonvulsants (administration & dosage)
• Blood Glucose (metabolism)
• Bromides (blood)
• Cross-Over Studies
• Diet, Ketogenic (veterinary)
• Dogs
• Double-Blind Method
• Epilepsy (diet therapy, veterinary)
• Female
• Male
• Phenobarbital (blood)
• Potassium Compounds (blood)
• Prospective Studies
• Quality of Life
• Seizures (diet therapy, veterinary)
• Treatment Outcome
• Triglycerides (administration & dosage)