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Not everyone with epilepsy can control their seizures with anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). About 30% of adults and 25% of children have a type of epilepsy that does not respond to AEDs¹. If you still have seizures after trying at least 2 AEDs, then you have refractory epilepsy.2
A seizure is abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Epilepsy is a neurological condition defined by 2 or more unprovoked seizures. Generally, an anti-epileptic drug (AED) is required to control epilepsy symptoms. When a patient does not respond to 2-3 anti-epileptic drugs, it is known as refractory or drug-resistant epilepsy² .
In 20-30% of cases, anti-epileptic drugs will have little effect on epilepsy symptoms; this is known as refractory or drug resistant epilepsy. When such cases arise, alternatives such as the ketogenic diet should be explored. The ketogenic diet can be a single management option or added with the anti-epileptic drugs.
Epilepsy is a common disease of the brain. About 50 million people have epilepsy in the world³ and 260,000 Canadians have epilepsy.4
Besides AEDs, there are other options to manage epilepsy. For example, medical diets can be used. Doctors around the world prescribe the medical ketogenic diet for epilepsy. It is a high-fat, adequate-protein, and low-carbohydrate diet.
Normally, the body uses glucose for its energy source. Glucose comes from carbohydrates and is found in foods like sugar, bread, or pasta.
On the keto diet, the body uses ketones for energy. The body makes ketones from the fat that is eaten. Sources of fat for the diet are butter, bacon, avocados, heavy whipping cream, mayonnaise, and oils. This process is called ketosis.
The keto diet helps manage epilepsy by using fats for energy instead of carbohydrates.
When starting a keto diet for epilepsy, you will meet with a healthcare team. They will help you choose the right keto diet for you. These diets are low in carbohydrates and high in fat and need to be carefully monitored by a healthcare professional.
The classical keto diet is the strictest keto diet. It requires careful measurements of calories, fluids, and proteins. It uses a ketogenic ratio of fats to proteins and carbohydrates. The ratio is usually 4:1 or 3:1. The 4:1 ratio is 4 grams of fat for every 1 gram of combined carbohydrate and protein. The 3:1 ratio is 3 grams of fat for every1 gram of combined carbohydrate and protein.
There are other versions of the keto diet for epilepsy. These diets are not as strict as the classical keto diet. But they can still help people with epilepsy manage their symptoms. Be sure to ask your healthcare professional if a keto diet is for you.
The following are less strict versions of the classical ketogenic diet:
Nutritional products are made just for the keto diet. For example, Nutricia makes drinks and powders, like KetoCal®. These products can be used as the sole source of nutrition or as a supplement.
For more details on how KetoCal can make the medical ketogenic diet easier, click here.
Reagan has been on the medical ketogenic diet for almost five months… She’s always been a little foodie and often asks me to contact the dietitian for new and exciting snacks and meals.*
*Individual results may vary.
**A patient’s story from the US
We were recommended the ketogenic diet… Chloe has now been on the diet for 3 years and has been seizure-free ever since… it has exceeded all expectations.
KetoCal is indicated for the dietary management of refractory epilepsy and is intended for use under medical supervision. Talk to your healthcare provider to determine if KetoCal is right for you.
If you need to find out more about the ketogenic diet and have not found the information you want in these pages, here is a list of recognized keto clinics in Canada. Be sure to ask your healthcare professional if a keto diet is for you.
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