The ketogenic diet revisited.

Abstract

The ketogenic diet is a high-fat diet that maintains the body's starvation mechanism, with exogenous fat provided for metabolism in lieu of stored fat. Mild dehydration is important to prevent dilution of the level of ketones in circulation at any given time. It is not known why or how ketosis affects seizure activity, so the principles behind the therapy have been developed from years of clinical experience and theoretical assumptions. Dietitians are essential providers of ketosis therapy, but the dietitian must work with a physician who understands the theories behind the therapy and is an active member of the ketosis therapy team.

• Authors: M S Berryman
• Journal: Journal of the American Dietetic Association (J Am Diet Assoc) Vol. 97 Issue 10 Suppl 2 Pg. S192-4 (Oct 1997) ISSN: 0002-8223 [Print] United States
• PMID: 9336588 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Diet (adverse effects, methods)
• Humans
• Ketosis (etiology)
• Seizures (diet therapy)