The Anticonvulsant Effects of Ketogenic Diet on Epileptic Seizures and Potential Mechanisms

Title:The Anticonvulsant Effects of Ketogenic Diet on Epileptic Seizures and Potential Mechanisms

Volume: 16 Issue: 1

Author(s): Yifan Zhang, Jingwei Xu, Kun Zhang, Wei Yang*Bingjin Li*

Affiliation:

• Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetic, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, 218 Ziqiang Street, Changchun 130041,China

• Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetic, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, 218 Ziqiang Street, Changchun 130041,China

Keywords: Epilepsy, seizure, ketogenic diet, GABA, neuron, animal.

Abstract: Background: Epilepsy is a syndrome of brain dysfunction induced by the aberrant excitability of certain neurons. Despite advances in surgical technique and anti-epileptic drug in recent years, recurrent epileptic seizures remain intractable and lead to a serious morbidity in the world. The ketogenic diet refers to a high-fat, low-carbohydrate and adequate-protein diet. Currently, its beneficial effects on epileptic seizure reduction have been well established. However, the detailed mechanisms underlying the anti-epileptic effects of ketogenic diet are still poorly understood. In this article, the possible roles of ketogenic diet on epilepsy were discussed.

Methods: Data was obtained from the websites including Web of Science, Medline, Pubmed, Scopus, based on these keywords: “Ketogenic diet” and “epilepsy”.

Results: As shown in both clinical and basic studies, the therapeutic effects of ketogenic diet might involve neuronal metabolism, neurotransmitter function, neuronal membrane potential and neuron protection against ROS.

Conclusion: In this review, we systematically reviewed the effects and possible mechanisms of ketogenic diet on epilepsy, which may optimize the therapeutic strategies against epilepsy.

Cite this article as:

Zhang Yifan , Xu Jingwei , Zhang Kun , Yang Wei*, Li Bingjin*, The Anticonvulsant Effects of Ketogenic Diet on Epileptic Seizures and Potential Mechanisms, Current Neuropharmacology 2018; 16 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1570159X15666170517153509