Hospitalization for the Initiation of Ketogenic Diet for the Treatment of Intractable Seizures
Number: 0226
Table Of Contents
PolicyApplicable CPT / HCPCS / ICD-10 Codes
Background
References
Policy
Scope of Policy
This Clinical Policy Bulletin addresses hospitalization for the initiation of ketogenic diet for the treatment of intractable seizures.
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Medical Necessity
Aetna considers hospitalization for initiation of a ketogenic diet medically necessary for the following indications:
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Intractable seizures (including Doose syndrome (epilepsy with myoclonic atonic seizures), and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome) when all of the following selection criteria are met:
- Member has failed to respond to anti-convulsant medications (monotherapy and polytherapy) or is intolerant to anti-convulsant medications. Note: There must have been an adequate trial of drug therapy (specifically, the correct anti-convulsant medications have been used in the correct dosage, the member has been carefully monitored for treatment effects and the member has been compliant with drug therapy for at least 1 year); and
- Member must be younger than 18 years old; and
- Since strict adherence to this dietary regimen is tantamount to its effectiveness, parents/family members must be willing and dedicated to support compliance; and
- There is reason to believe that the outpatient setting will not be effective in initiating the fasting and dehydration period required;
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Persons with glucose transporter protein type 1 deficiency or pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency.
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Experimental and Investigational
Aetna considers hospitalization for initiation of a ketogenic diet of unproven value for all other indications (not an all-inclusive list):
- Adult super-refractory status epilepticus
- Alzheimer's disease
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Cancer
- Diabetic peripheral neuropathy
- Glioblastoma multiforme
- Migraine prevention
- Mitochondrial disease
- Mood disorders (e.g., bipolar disorder and depression)
- Multiple sclerosis
- Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy
- Parkinson's disease
- Prevention of glioma growth and improvement of survival
- Schizophrenia
- Spinal cord injury
- Type-2 diabetes; and
- Weight management in Prader-Willi syndrome.
The following interventions are considered experimental and investigational because the effectiveness of these approaches has not been established:
- Hospitalization for initiation of the Atkins diet in the treatment of intractable seizures or other indications;
- Determination of variants in BAD, KCNJ11, and SLC2A1 to predict response to ketogenic dietary therapies for epilepsy.
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Policy Limitations and Exclusions
Note: Most Aetna plans exclude coverage of dietary supplements; please check benefit plan descriptions for details. These plans do not cover any food supplements for the ketogenic diet.
Background
The ketogenic diet, a diet that is very high in fats and extremely low in carbohydrates and protein, has been used for the treatment of uncontrolled seizures.
The traditional ketogenic diet entails an initial fasting and dehydration period during which patients receive no food and fluid intake is limited until ketones are present in the urine. Thereafter, a diet high in fat and low in carbohydrate and protein is introduced.
Strict compliance with this unpalatable dietary regimen has been shown to have anti-convulsant effects, particularly in children. Hospitalization may be necessary during an initial starvation period to induce marked ketosis and weight loss. The length of hospital stay will depend on the proposed initial starvation period, and generally should not exceed 3 days.
According to an evidence-based guideline on diagnosis and management of epilepsy from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE, 2004), the ketogenic diet may be considered as an adjunctive treatment in children with drug-resistant epilepsy. The guidelines state, however, that the ketogenic diet should not be recommended for adults with epilepsy.
Than and colleagues (2005) stated that an early, dramatic response to the ketogenic diet is more likely in patients with predominant seizure types other than complex partial. It may also be more likely to occur in children who have infantile spasms. In all other patient demographics and diet parameters, an equal likelihood of similar success was found. In a randomized controlled study (n = 48), Bergquist et al (2005) compared the effectiveness of a gradual ketogenic diet initiation with the standard ketogenic diet initiation preceded by a 24- to 48-hour fast. These investigators found that in children with intractable epilepsy, a gradual initiation results in fewer adverse events and is tolerated better overall while maintaining the effectiveness of the ketogenic diet.
In a randomized controlled study, Neal et al (2008) examined the effectiveness of the ketogenic diet in the treatment of childhood epilepsy. A total of 145 children aged between 2 and 16 years who had at least daily seizures (or more than 7 seizures per week) and had failed to respond to at least 2 anti-epileptic drugs, and who had not been treated previously with the ketogenic diet participated in this study. Children were seen at one of two hospital centers or a residential center for young people with epilepsy. Children were randomly assigned to receive a ketogenic diet, either immediately or after a 3-month delay, with no other changes to treatment (control group). Neither the family nor investigators was blinded to the group assignment. Early withdrawals were recorded, and seizure frequency on the diet was assessed after 3 months and compared with that of the controls. The primary endpoint was a reduction in seizures; analysis was intention-to-treat. Tolerability of the diet was assessed by questionnaire at 3 months. A total of 73 children were assigned to the ketogenic diet and 72 children to the control group. Data from 103 children were available for analysis: 54 on the ketogenic diet and 49 controls. Of those who did not complete the trial, 16 children did not receive their intervention, 16 did not provide adequate data, and 10 withdrew from the treatment before the 3-month review, 6 because of intolerance. After 3 months, the mean percentage of baseline seizures was significantly lower in the diet group than in the controls (62.0 % versus 136.9 %, 75 % decrease, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 42.4 to 107.4 %; p < 0.0001). A total of 28 children (38 %) in the diet group had greater than 50 % seizure reduction compared with 4 (6 %) controls (p < 0.0001), and 5 children (7 %) in the diet group had greater than 90 % seizure reduction compared with no controls (p = 0.0582). There was no significant difference in the efficacy of the treatment between symptomatic generalized or symptomatic focal syndromes. The most frequent side effects reported at 3-month review were constipation, vomiting, lack of energy, and hunger. The authors concluded that these findings support the use of ketogenic diet in children with treatment-intractable epilepsy.
The Atkins diet, widely used for weight reduction, has recently been tried for the management of intractable seizures. The Atkins diet can induce a ketotic state, but has fewer protein and caloric restrictions than the traditional ketogenic diet. Kossoff et al (2003) reported the use on the Atkins diet in 6 patients (aged 7 to 52 years) for the treatment of intractable focal and multi-focal epilepsy. Five patients maintained moderate to large ketosis for periods of 6 weeks to 24 months; 3 patients had seizure reduction and were able to reduce anti-epileptic drug (AEDs). This preliminary finding needs to be validated by more research.
Weber and colleagues (2009) evaluated the tolerability and efficacy of the modified Atkins diet given to children and adolescents with AED treatment resistant epilepsy. A total of 15 children with medically intractable epilepsy were enrolled in the study. Inclusion criteria were at least 1 seizure a week and a trial of at least 2 AEDs without obtaining seizure freedom documented in a seizure calendar. At baseline subjects initiated a diet with carbohydrates restricted to make up 10 energy percent. If seizures were reduced by less than 50 % after 7 to 14 days, carbohydrates were further restricted to 10 g per day. No change in AED treatment was allowed. The diet was well-tolerated. After 3 months, 6 out of the 15 children (40 %) had a seizure reduction of more than 50 %, which was seen in different epileptic syndromes and different age groups. The responders reported an increase in quality of life and cognition. At 12 months follow-up, 3 (20 %) continued the diet with an unchanged marked seizure reduction. Results of this study confirmed the high tolerability and effect of the modified Atkins diet on seizure control in AED treatment resistant epilepsy. Moreover, the authors stated that further larger prospective studies are however needed to confirm these results.
Glucose is the brain's main source of energy. To pass the blood-brain barrier (BBB), glucose transporter protein type 1 (GLUT-1) is essential. Glucose transporter protein type 1 (GLUT-1) deficiency syndrome is caused by heterozygous mutations in the SLC2A1 gene, resulting in impaired glucose transport into the brain. It is characterized by a low glucose concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF; hypoglycorrhachia) in the absence of hypoglycemia, in combination with low-to-normal lactate in the CSF. The diagnosis is confirmed by genetic testing.
Rogovik and Goldman (2010) stated that the ketogenic diet can be considered an option for children with intractable epilepsy who use multiple anti-epileptic drugs. It is a treatment of choice for seizures associated with GLUT-1 deficiency syndrome (i.e., De Vivo disease) and pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) deficiency.
Ramm-Pettersen et al (2011) described the clinical consequences of mutations in the SLC2A1 gene, with special emphasis on GLUT-1 encephalopathy. This review was based on a non-systematic literature search in PubMed and the authors' experience within the field. Epileptic or epilepsy-like symptoms are usually the first sign in children with the GLUT-1 deficiency syndrome. Later on these children suffer delayed psychomotor development, microcephaly, ataxia, spasticity, or movement disorders; electroencephalograhic abnormalities may develop. GLUT-1 deficiency syndrome should be suspected in children with epilepsy-like seizures and delayed development combined with a low content of glucose in spinal fluid. Treatment is a ketogenic diet, as ketone bodies pass the BBB using other transport proteins than GLUT-1. The authors concluded that GLUT-1 deficiency syndrome is a rare metabolic encephalopathy that is not well-known and probably under-diagnosed. An early diagnosis and early start of a ketogenic diet may give these children a normal or nearly normal life.
Graham (2012) stated that GLUT-1 deficiency syndrome often results in treatment-resistant infantile epilepsy with progressive developmental disabilities and a complex movement disorder. Recognizing GLUT-1 deficiency syndrome is important, since initiation of a ketogenic diet can reduce the frequency of seizures and the severity of the movement disorder.
Pong et al (2012) noted that GLUT-1 deficiency syndrome is defined by hypoglycorrhachia with normoglycemia, acquired microcephaly, episodic movements, and epilepsy refractory to standard AEDs. Gold standard treatment is the ketogenic diet, which provides ketones to treat neuroglycopenia. These investigators:- described epilepsy phenotypes in a large GLUT-1 deficiency syndrome cohort to facilitate diagnosis; and
- described cases in which non-ketogenic diet agents achieved seizure freedom to highlight potential adjunctive treatments.
A retrospective review of 87 patients with GLUT- 1 deficiency syndrome (45 % female, age range of 3 months to 35 years, average diagnosis 6.5 years) from 1989 to 2010 was carried out. Seventy-eight (90 %) of 87 patients had epilepsy, with average onset at 8 months. Seizures were mixed in 68 % (53/78): generalized tonic-clonic (53 %), absence (49 %), complex partial (37 %), myoclonic (27 %), drop (26 %), tonic (12 %), simple partial (3 %), and spasms (3 %). These researchers described the first 2 cases of spasms in GLUT-1 deficiency syndrome. Electrophysiologic abnormalities were highly variable over time; only 13 (17 %) of 75 had exclusively normal findings. Ketogenic diet was used in 82 % (64/78); 67 % (41/61) were seizure-free and 68 % of seizure-free patients (28/41) resolved in less than 1 week and 76 % (31/41) in less than 1 month. Seven patients achieved seizure freedom with broad agents only. The authors conclude that GLUT-1 deficiency syndrome is a genetic metabolic encephalopathy with variable focal and multi-focal seizure types and electroencephalographic findings. Infants with seizures, spasms, or paroxysmal events should be tested for GLUT-1 deficiency syndrome. They stated that evidence is insufficient to recommend specific AEDs as alternatives to ketogenic diet. Early diagnosis and initiation of ketogenic diet and prevention of unnecessary AED trials in GLUT-1 deficiency syndrome are important goals for the treatment of children with epilepsy.
An UpToDate review on "The ketogenic diet" (Kossoff, 2012) stated that "GLUT1 deficiency syndrome is a genetic disorder characterized by impaired glucose transport across the blood brain barrier resulting in generalized epilepsy, developmental delay, and an associated movement disorder. A low cerebrospinal fluid glucose level suggests this diagnosis. The diagnosis can be confirmed in most cases with genetic testing (SLC2A1 mutation). The ketogenic diet is a first-line treatment for this disorder and provides ketones as an alternative energy source for the brain".
Tzadok et al (2014) described a cohort of isolated and familial cases of GLUT-1 deficiency syndrome, emphasizing seizure semiology, electroencephalographic features, therapeutic response, and mutation pathogenicity. SLC2A1 mutations were detected in 3 sporadic and 4 familial cases. In addition, mutations were identified in 9 clinically unaffected family members in 2 families. The phenotypic spectrum of GLUT-1 deficiency is wider than previously recognized, with considerable intra-familial variation. Diagnosis requires either hypoglycorrachia followed by SLC2A1 sequencing or direct gene sequencing. A ketogenic diet should be the first line of treatment; carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (e.g., acetazolamide or zonisamide) can be effective for seizure control.
Inborn errors of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHc) are associated with developmental delay, lactic acidosis, neuroanatomic defects, and early death. Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency is a clinically heterogeneous disorder, with most mutations located in the coding region of the X-linked alpha subunit of the first catalytic component, pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1). Treatment of E1 deficiency has included cofactor replacement, activation of PDC with dichloroacetate, as well as ketogenic diets.
Wexler et al (1997) described the outcome of ketogenic diet treatment in 7 boys with E1 deficiency. These patients were divided into 2 groups based on their mutations (R349H, 3 patients; and R234G, 4 patients, 2 sibling pairs). All 7 patients received ketogenic diets with varying degrees of carbohydrate restriction. Clinical outcome was compared within each group and between siblings as related to the intensity and duration of dietary intervention. Subjects who either had the diet initiated earlier in life or who were placed on greater carbohydrate restriction had increased longevity and improved mental development. Based on the improved outcomes of patients with identical mutations, it appears that a nearly carbohydrate-free diet initiated shortly after birth may be useful in the treatment of E1 deficiency.
Klepper et al (2004) stated that the ketogenic diet has been used for decades to treat intractable childhood epilepsies. It is also the treatment of choice for GLUT-1 deficiency syndrome and PDHc deficiency. Recent studies have once again confirmed the effectiveness of the diet, but the diet is hardly known in Europe and has never been quite accepted as an effective treatment of childhood epilepsy. These investigators reported retrospective data on 146 children treated with the ketogenic diet in Austria, Switzerland, and Germany. In 2000 and 2002, standardized questionnaires were sent to 13 neuropediatric departments to evaluate indications, effects and side effects. In children with refractory epilepsy (n = 111), 8 % became seizure-free on the diet. Seizure reduction of greater than 90 % was achieved in additional 9 % of patients; a seizure reduction of 50 to 90 % was attained in additional 14 % of patients. There was a great variability between epilepsy departments. All patients with GLUT-1 deficiency syndrome (n = 18) and PDHc deficiency (n = 15) showed clinical improvement. In GLUT-1 deficiency syndrome, complete seizure control was achieved in 94 % of patients. Compliance was good in 82 % of all patients regardless of the indication for the diet. The authors concluded that in contrast to the general restraint towards the ketogenic diet in Europe, these findings supported its effectiveness as the treatment of choice for GLUT-1 deficiency syndrome und PDHc deficiency. In children with refractory epilepsy, the ketogenic diet matched the effect of most anti-convulsants and was well-tolerated. These data and 2 work-shops resulted in recommendations for the use of the ketogenic diet in children as a basis for a general diagnostic and therapeutic standard to compare and improve the use of the ketogenic diet in Europe.
Prasad et al (2011) noted that the PDHc is a mitochondrial matrix multi-enzyme complex that provides the link between glycolysis and the tri-carboxylic acid (TCA) cycle by catalyzing the conversion of pyruvate into acetyl-CoA. Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency is one of the commoner metabolic disorders of lactic acidosis presenting with neurological phenotypes that vary with age and gender. These researchers postulated mechanisms of epilepsy in the setting of PDHc deficiency using 2 illustrative cases (one with PDHc E1-alpha polypeptide (PDHA1) deficiency and the second one with PDHc E1-beta subunit (PDHB) deficiency (a rare subtype of PDHc deficiency)) and a selected review of published case series. Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex plays a critical role in the pathway of carbohydrate metabolism and energy production. In severe deficiency states, the resulting energy deficit impacts on brain development in-utero resulting in structural brain anomalies and epilepsy. Milder deficiency states present with variable manifestations that include cognitive delay, ataxia, and seizures. Epileptogenesis in PDHc deficiency is linked to energy failure, development of structural brain anomalies and abnormal neurotransmitter metabolism. The use of the ketogenic diet bypasses the metabolic block, by providing a direct source of acetyl-CoA, leading to amelioration of some symptoms. Genetic counseling is essential as PDHA1 deficiency (commonest defect) is X-linked although females can be affected due to unfavorable lyonization, while PDHB and PDH phosphatase (PDP) deficiencies (much rarer defects) are of autosomal recessive inheritance.
El-Gharbawy et al (2011) reported the case of a male child with X-linked PDH deficiency presented with severe neonatal lactic acidosis. Poor compliance following initiation of the ketogenic diet justified modification to a less restrictive form that improved compliance. One year after starting the modified diet, the subject remained clinically stable, showing developmental progress.
An UpToDate review on "The ketogenic diet" (Kossoff, 2012) stated that "The ketogenic diet may also serve to provide an alternative energy source for the brain in PDH deficiency, a mitochondrial disease characterized by lactic acidosis, severe neurologic impairments, and occasionally, intractable epilepsy".
Mir and colleagues (2020) noted that due to the possibility of serious AEs, patients are commonly admitted to hospital for 3 to 5 days for the initiation of KD. These investigators reviewed the incidence of potential AE during admission for KD initiation to examine the possibility of safely initiating a KD at home. Children with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) who were admitted to hospital for 5 days for KD initiation were retrospectively studied. A total of 66 children (59 % female) were analyzed. The mean age at the initiation of the KD was 48.0 ± 38.4 months, and the mean weight was 14.6 ± 6.3 kg. The median number of anti-convulsant medications used at the time of KD initiation was 3. The etiology of the DRE was structural in 4.5 %, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in 10.6 %, genetic/metabolic in 31.8 %, acquired in 10.6 %, and unknown in 42.2 %. The potential AE occurred in 28.7 % of patients, including hypoglycemia (20 %), hypoactivity (6.1 %), somnolence (3 %), and vomiting (7.6 %). A univariate analysis of the clinical characteristics of the AE and no AE groups showed a statistically significant difference in weight (p = 0.003) and age (p = 0.033). The concurrent use of topiramate was found to have a near-significant association (p = 0.097) between the groups. The groups' urine ketone levels on all 5 days were compared, and a statistically significant difference was found on day 3 (p = 0.026). A statistically significant difference in the serum bicarbonate levels (p = 0.038) was found between the patients taking topiramate and those not taking it. The authors concluded that the incidence of AEs during admission for KD initiation was found to be low; and the AEs either needed no intervention or were easily managed with simple interventions. These investigators stated that since admission to hospital for 3 to 5 days for initiation of a KD could prove both expensive and inconvenient for patients and their families, KD initiation on an outpatient basis among carefully selected patients, coupled with good communication and close monitoring with the parents, could be an affordable and beneficial therapeutic option for many.
Determination of Variants in BAD and KCNJ11
Schoeler and colleagues (2015a) stated that in the absence of specific metabolic disorders, predictors of response to ketogenic dietary therapies (KDT) are unknown. These researchers examined if variants in established candidate genes KCNJ11 and BAD influence response to KDT. They sequenced KCNJ11 and BAD in individuals without previously-known glucose transporter type 1 deficiency syndrome or other metabolic disorders, who received KDT for epilepsy. Hospital records were used to obtain demographic and clinical data. Two response phenotypes were used: greater than or equal to 50 % seizure reduction and seizure-freedom at 3-month follow-up. Case/control association tests were conducted with KCNJ11 and BAD variants with minor allele frequency (MAF) greater than 0.01, using PLINK. Response to KDT in individuals with variants with MAF less than 0.01 was evaluated. A total of 303 individuals had KCNJ11 and 246 individuals had BAD sequencing data and diet response data; 6 SNPs in KCNJ11 and 2 in BAD had MAF greater than 0.01. Eight variants in KCNJ11 and 7 in BAD (of which 3 were previously-unreported) had MAF less than 0.01. No significant results were obtained from association analyses, with either KDT response phenotype; p-values were similar when accounting for ethnicity using a stratified Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test. There did not seem to be a consistent effect of rare variants on response to KDT, although the cohort size was too small to assess significance. The authors concluded that common variants in KCNJ11 and BAD did not predict response to KDT for epilepsy; they could exclude, with 80 % power, association from variants with a MAF of greater than 0.05 and effect size greater than 3. They stated that a larger sample size is needed to detect associations from rare variants or those with smaller effect sizes.
Determination of Variants in SLC2A1
Schoeler and associates (2015b) examined if response to KDT was due to undiagnosed glucose transporter type 1 deficiency syndrome (GLUT1-DS). Targeted re-sequencing of the SLC2A1 gene was completed in individuals without previously known GLUT1-DS who received KDT for their epilepsy. Hospital records were used to obtain demographic and clinical data. Response to KDT at various follow-up points was defined as seizure reduction of at least 50 %. Seizure freedom achieved at any follow-up point was also documented. Fisher's exact and gene-burden association tests were conducted using the PLINK/SEQ open-source genetics library. Of the 246 participants, 1 was shown to have a novel variant in SLC2A1 that was predicted to be deleterious. This individual was seizure-free on KDT. Rates of seizure freedom in cases without GLUT1-DS were below 8 % at each follow-up point; 2 cases without SLC2A1 mutations were seizure-free at every follow-up point recorded. No significant results were obtained from Fisher's exact or gene-burden association tests. The authors concluded that a favorable response to KDT is not solely explained by mutations in SLC2A1; other genetic factors should be sought to identify those who are most likely to benefit from dietary treatment for epilepsy, particularly those who may achieve seizure freedom.
Ketogenic Diet for Adult Super-Refractory Status Epilepticus
In a prospective, phase I/II multi-center study, Cervenka and colleagues (2017) examined the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of a KD for super-refractory status epilepticus (SRSE) in adults. Patients 18 to 80 years of age with SRSE treated with a KD treatment algorithm were eligible for inclusion into this trial. The primary outcome measure was significant urine and serum ketone body production as a biomarker of feasibility. Secondary measures included resolution of SRSE, disposition at discharge, KD-related side effects, and long-term outcomes. A total of 24 adults were screened for participation at 5 medical centers, and 15 were enrolled and treated with a classic KD via gastrostomy tube for SRSE. Median age was 47 years (interquartile range [IQR] of 30 years), and 5 (33 %) were man. Median number of anti-seizure drugs used before KD was 8 (IQR 7), and median duration of SRSE before KD initiation was 10 days (IQR 7 days). Ketogenic diet treatment delays resulted from intravenous propofol use, ileus, and initial care received at a non-participating center. All patients achieved ketosis in a median of 2 days (IQR 1 day) on KD; 14 patients completed KD treatment, and SRSE resolved in 11 (79 %; 73 % of all patients enrolled). Side effects included metabolic acidosis, hyperlipidemia, constipation, hypoglycemia, hyponatremia, and weight loss; 5 patients (33 %) ultimately died. The authors concluded that KD is feasible in adults with SRSE and may be safe and effective; moreover, they stated that comparative safety and efficacy must be established with randomized placebo-controlled trials.
Ketogenic Diet for Individuals with Cancers
Erickson and colleagues (2017) noted that the efficacy and benefits of KD have recently been gaining worldwide and remain a controversial topic in oncology. In a systematic, these researchers evaluated the clinical evidence on isocaloric KD dietary regimes and revealed that evidence supporting the effects of isocaloric KD on tumor development and progression as well as reduction in side effects of cancer therapy is missing. Furthermore, an array of potential side effects should be carefully considered before applying KD to cancer patients. The authors concluded that with regard to counseling cancer patients considering a KD, more robust and consistent clinical evidence is needed before the KD can be recommended for any single cancer diagnosis or as an adjunct therapy.
Maisch and associates (2018) stated that beside the classical anti-cancer treatment, patients often try to find proactive alternative therapies to fight their disease. Lifestyle changes such as introducing a KD is one of the most popular among them. The German Association of Urological Oncology presented a systematic review investigating the evidence of KD in cancer patients. These investigators performed a systematic literature research in the databases Medline, Livivo, and the Cochrane Library. Only clinical studies of tumor patients receiving chemotherapy while on a KD were included. The assessment of the results was performed according to the predefined primary end-points of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS); and secondary end-points of quality of life (QOL) and reduction of adverse effects induced by cytostatics. A total of 9 studies met the inclusion criteria: 8 prospective and 1 retrospective study case series respectively cohort-studies, with a total of 107 patients. Currently there is no evidence of a therapeutic effect of a KD in patients with malignant tumors regarding the clinical outcome or QOL. The authors concluded that based on the current data, a KD cannot be recommended to cancer patients because prospective, randomized trials are missing.
Sremanakova and associates (2018) stated that a growing body of evidence indicates the importance of nutrition in cancer treatment. Ketogenic diets are one strategy that has been proposed to enhance traditional anti-cancer therapy. These investigators summarized the evidence concerning the effect of oral ketogenic diets on anthropometry, metabolism, QOL and tumor effects, at the same time as documenting adverse events (AEs) and adherence in patients with cancer. These researchers searched electronic databases using medical subject headings (MeSH) and text words related to ketogenic diets and cancer. Adult patients following a ketogenic diet as a complementary therapy prior, alongside or after standard anti-cancer treatment for more than 7 days were included. Studies were assessed for quality using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program tools (https://www.casp-uk.net). A total of 11 studies were included with 102 participants (age range of 34 to 87 years) from early-phase trials, cohort studies and case reports. Studies included participants with brain, rectal or mixed cancer sites at an early or advanced disease stage. The duration of intervention ranged from 2.4 to 134.7 weeks (0.5 to 31 months). Evidence was inconclusive for nutritional status and AEs. Mixed results were observed for blood parameters, tumor effects and QOL; adherence to diet was low (50 out of 102; 49 %; ranging from 23.5 % to 100 %). The authors concluded that high-quality evidence on the effect of ketogenic diets on anthropometry, metabolism, QOL and tumor effects is currently lacking in oncology patients. These researchers stated that heterogeneity between studies and low adherence to diet affected the current evidence; and there is an obvious gap in the evidence, high-lighting the need for controlled trials to fully evaluate the intervention.
Ok and co-workers (2018) noted that high-carbohydrate diets are generally provided to post-pancreatectomy cancer patients. Low energy density of this diet may obstruct proper energy intake and recovery. These investigators examined the effects of high-fat, high-energy ketogenic diet (KD) in these patients. After pancreatectomy, 9 patients were provided with general diet (GD) while 10 were served KD. Meal compliance, energy intake rate, meal satisfaction and presence of complications were monitored throughout hospital stay. Data on nutritional status, serum lipids and body composition were collected and compared between groups. Meal compliance, energy intake rate and meal satisfaction score were higher in KD. There were no differences in complications, nutritional status and serum lipids. The decrease in body cell mass (BCM) was greater in GD. The authors concluded that post-pancreatectomy cancer patients who consumed KD had a higher energy intake and BCM. They stated that these findings suggested the potential use of KD as an adjuvant anti-cancer therapy.
Noorlag and colleagues (2019) stated that patients with malignant gliomas have a poor prognosis. Diets that lower blood glucose, such as ketogenic or caloric restricted diets (KCRDs), are hypothesized to reduce tumor growth and improve survival. In a systematic review, these researchers reviewed pre-clinical and clinical data on KCRDs in gliomas. They searched PubMed and Embase for pre-clinical and clinical studies on KCRDs in gliomas, and extracted data on surrogate and clinically relevant end-points, in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Quality assessment of clinical studies was performed with use of Cochrane Collaboration's tool. These investigators performed Fisher's exact test to examine associations between surrogate and clinically relevant end-points. They included 24 pre-clinical studies, 7 clinical studies and 1 mixed study. Both pre-clinical and clinical studies were highly heterogeneous. Pre-clinically, KCRDs reduced tumor growth, but only a small majority of the in-vivo studies found improved survival. These effects were stronger in groups with decreased blood glucose than in those with increased ketones, and also when other therapies were used concomitantly. Finally, KCRDs influenced multiple molecular-biological pathways, including the PTEN/Akt/TSC2 and NF-kB pathway. In clinical studies, KCRDs appeared to be safe and feasible in glioma patients; however, available clinical data were insufficient to draw conclusions regarding efficacy. The authors concluded that KCRDs had positive effects on malignant gliomas in published pre-clinical studies; preliminary clinical data suggested that KCRDs were safe and feasible. However, these researchers stated that because of the paucity of clinical data, the efficacy of KCRDs for improving survival and QOL of glioma patients remains to be proven in prospective studies.
van der Louw and co-workers (2019) noted that the mean OS rate of children with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is 9 to 11 months, with current standard treatment with fractionated radiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy. So far, novel therapeutic strategies have not yet resulted in significantly better survival. The main source of energy for glioblastoma cells is glucose. Thus, metabolic alterations induced by the use of the extremely carbohydrate-restricted ketogenic diet (KD) as adjuvant therapy are subject of interest in cancer research. These researchers examined the safety and feasibility of the KD in children with recurrent DIPG and no remaining therapeutic options. Safety was defined as the number of adverse effects; feasibility was defined as the number of patients who were able to use the KD for 3 months. Coping of patients and parents was measured with questionnaires; 3 of 14 children referred to the authors’ hospital between 2010 and 2015 were included; 2 patients completed the study, and 1 died before the end of the study. Hospitalizations were needed for placing a nasogastric tube (n = 1) and epileptic seizures (n = 1). Adverse effects related to the diet were mild and transient; parents were highly motivated during the study. The authors concluded that use of KD is safe and feasible, however the effect on survival has to be proven in a larger cohort of children who start the KD earlier after diagnosis, preferably as adjuvant therapy to fractionated radiotherapy.
Klement (2019) stated that altered glucose metabolism in cancer cells is an almost ubiquitous observation, yet hardly exploited therapeutically. However, ketogenic diets have gained growing attention in recent years as a non-toxic broad-spectrum approach to target this major metabolic difference between normal and cancer cells. Although most pre-clinical studies indicated a therapeutic potential for ketogenic diets in cancer treatment, it is now becoming clear that not all tumors might respond positively. Early clinical trials have examined ketogenic diets as a monotherapy and -- while showing the safety of the approach even in advanced cancer patients -- largely failed to prove survival prolonging effects. However, it gradually became clear that the greatest potential for ketogenic diets is as adjuvant treatments combined with pro-oxidative or targeted therapies initiated in early stages of the disease. Beneficial effects on body composition and QOL have also been found. The authors concluded that ketogenic diets against cancer are worth further exploration, both in the laboratory and clinically. Patients wishing to undertake a ketogenic diet during therapy should receive dietary counselling to avoid common mistakes and optimize compliance. They stated that future research should focus more on important clinical end-points.
Rinninella and colleagues (2019) noted that among all gynecological neoplasms, ovarian cancer has the highest rate of disease-related mal-nutrition, representing an important risk factor of post-operative mortality and morbidity. Hence, the importance of finding effective nutritional interventions is crucial to improve ovarian cancer patient's well-being and survival. In a systematic review of RCTs aimed at examining the effects of nutritional interventions on clinical outcomes such as OS, PFS, length of hospital stay (LOS), complications following surgery and/or chemotherapy in ovarian cancer patients. Three electronic bibliographic databases (Medline, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) were used to conduct a systematic literature search based on fixed inclusion and exclusion criteria, until December 2018. A total of 14 studies were identified. Several early post-operative feeding interventions studies (n = 8) were retrieved mainly demonstrating a reduction in LOS and an ameliorated intestinal recovery following surgery. Moreover, innovative nutritional approaches such as chewing gum intervention (n = 1), coffee consumption (n = 1), ketogenic diet intervention (n = 2) or fruit and vegetable juice concentrate supplementation diet (n = 1) and short-term fasting (n = 1) have been shown as valid and well-tolerated nutritional strategies improving clinical outcomes. However, despite an acceptable number of prospective trials, there is still a lack of homogeneous and robust end-points. In particular, there is an urgent need of RCTs evaluating OS and PFS during ovarian oncology treatments. The authors concluded that further high-quality studies are needed, especially prospective studies and large RCTs, with more homogeneous types of intervention and clinical outcomes, including a more specific sampling of ovarian cancer women, to identify appropriate and effective nutritional strategies for this cancer, which is at high-risk of mal-nutrition.
Klement and associates (2020) stated that pre-clinical data provide evidence for synergism between ketogenic diets (KDs) and other oncological therapies. In a systematic review, these researchers summarized data from clinical studies that have tested KDs along with other treatments used within medical oncology. The PubMed database was searched using the key words "ketogenic" AND ("cancer" OR "glioblastoma"). A secondary search was conducted by screening the reference lists of relevant articles on this topic. Relevant studies for this review were defined as studies in which KDs were used complementary to surgery, radio-, chemo-, or targeted- therapy and at least 1 of the following four outcomes were reported: OS; PFS; local control rate; and body composition changes. A total of 12 papers reporting on 13 clinical studies were identified; 9 studies were prospective and 6 had a control group, but only 2 were randomized. KD prescription varied widely between studies and was described only rudimentarily in most papers; AEs attributed to the diet were rare and only minor (grade 1 to 2) except for 1 possibly diet-related grade-4 event. Studies reporting body composition changes found beneficial effects of KDs in both over-weight and frail patient populations. Beneficial effects of KDs on OS and/or PFS were found in 4 studies including 1 RCT. Studies in high-grade glioma patients were not sufficiently powered to prove efficacy. The authors concluded that while evidence for beneficial effects of KDs during cancer therapy is accumulating, more high-quality studies are needed to examine the overall strength of evidence.
Yang and colleagues (2021) examined the role of low-carbohydrate KD (LCKD) as an adjuvant therapy in anti-tumor treatment is not well established. These investigators carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis of (RCTs to examine the effectiveness of LCKD as an adjunctive therapy in anti-tumor treatment compared to non-ketogenic diet in terms of lipid profile, body weight, fasting glucose level, insulin, and adverse effects. In this study, databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, and Cochrane trials were searched. Only RCTs that involved cancer participants who were assigned to dietary interventions including a LCKD group and a control group (any non-ketogenic dietary intervention) were selected. A total of 3 reviewers independently extracted the data, and the meta-analysis was performed using a fixed effects model or random effects model depending on the I2 value or p-value. A total of 6 articles met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. In the overall analysis, the post-intervention results = standard mean difference (SMD; 95 % CI) showed total cholesterol (TC) level = 0.25 (-0.17 to 0.67), HDL-cholesterol = -0.07 (-0.50 to 0.35), LDL-cholesterol = 0.21 (-0.21 to 0.63), triglyceride (TG) = 0.09 (-0.33 to 0.51), body weight (BW) = -0.34 (-1.33 to 0.65), fasting blood glucose (FBG) = -0.40 (-1.23 to 0.42) and insulin = 0.11 (-1.33 to 1.55). There were 3 outcomes showing significant results in those in LCKD group: the tumor marker PSA, p = 0.03, the achievement of ketosis p = 0.010, and the level of satisfaction, p = 0.005. The authors concluded that there was inadequate evidence to support the beneficial effects of LCKDs on anti-tumor therapy; they stated that more trials comparing LCKD and non-KD with a larger sample size are needed to render a more conclusive result.
Romer and associates (2021) noted that KDs are a widely known, yet controversial treatment for cancer patients. In a systematic review, these investigators examined the clinical evidence for anti-tumor effects, as well as the effects on anthropometry, QOL, AEs and adherence in cancer patients. In April 2019, a systematic search was carried out searching 5 electronic databases (Embase, Cochrane, PsychInfo, CINAHL and Medline) to find studies analyzing the use, effectiveness and potential harm of a KD in cancer patients of any age as sole or complementary therapy. From all 19,211 search results, 46 publications concerning 39 studies with 770 patients were included in this systematic review. The therapy concepts included all forms of diets with reduced carbohydrate intake, that aimed to achieve ketosis for patients with different types of cancer. Most studies had a low quality, high risk of bias and were highly heterogeneous. There was no conclusive evidence for anti-tumor effects or improved OS. The majority of patients had significant weight loss and mild-to-moderate side effects. Adherence to the diet was rather low in most studies. The authors concluded that due to the very heterogeneous results and methodological limitations of the included studies, clinical evidence for the effectiveness of KDs in cancer patients is still lacking. These researchers stated that to form a final judgment regarding the effectiveness of a KD in oncology, a RCT with a well-designed control group and sufficient power to also detect evidence for absence of anti-tumor effects is needed.
Ketogenic Diet for Alzheimer's Disease
Broom and colleagues (2018) noted that the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is increasing as is the need for effective management. The pathophysiology of AD is still unclear, so existing research has focused on understanding the prominent features of the disease. These include amyloid plaques, which accumulate in the brains of those with AD; impaired glucose metabolism; and neuronal cell death. Emerging evidence suggests that a low-carbohydrate, high-fat ketogenic diet may help to mitigate the damage associated with these pathologies. The ketogenic diet could alleviate the effects of impaired glucose metabolism by providing ketones as a supplementary energy source. In addition, this diet may help to reduce the accumulation of amyloid plaques while reversing amyloid β toxicity. Research has begun to identify early underlying mechanisms in AD that could be targeted by new prevention strategies. Glycation of the ApoE protein leads to impaired transportation of important lipids, including cholesterol, to the brain, resulting in lipid deficiencies that could explain progression to the later pathologies of the disease. The authors hypothesized that the ketogenic diet could be an effective treatment and prevention for AD, but both ketone production and carbohydrate restriction may be needed to achieve this. They stated that the ketogenic diet (including carbohydrate restriction) might be useful in the management of AD.
Ota and associates (2018) stated that clinical and animal studies suggested that a medium-chain triglyceride (MCT)-based ketogenic diet provides an alternative energy substrate to the brain and has neuroprotective effects, but the clinical evidence is still scarce. These researchers examined the effect of an MCT-based ketogenic formula on cognitive function in patients with AD. Participants were 20 Japanese patients with mild-to-moderate AD (11 men, 9 women, mean age of 73.4 ± 6.0 years) who, on separate days, underwent neurocognitive tests 120 mins after consuming 50 g of a ketogenic formula (Ketonformula) containing 20 g of MCTs or an iso-caloric placebo formula without MCTs. Subjects then took 50 g of the ketogenic formula daily for up to 12 weeks, and underwent neurocognitive tests monthly. In the first trial, although the patients' plasma levels of ketone bodies were successfully increased 120 mins after the single intake of the ketogenic formula, there was no significant difference in any cognitive test results between the administrations of the ketogenic and placebo formulae. In the subsequent chronic intake trial of the ketogenic formula, 16 of the 20 patients completed the 12-week regimen. At 8 weeks after the trial's start, subjects showed significant improvement in their immediate and delayed logical memory tests compared to their baseline scores, and at 12 weeks they showed significant improvements in the digit-symbol coding test and immediate logical memory test compared to the baseline. The authors concluded that the chronic consumption of the ketogenic formula was therefore suggested to have positive effects on verbal memory and processing speed in patients with AD. These preliminary findings need to be validated by well-designed studies.
The authors stated that this study had several drawbacks. First, the number of participants (n = 20) was small, which rendered the study vulnerable to type II error. Second, some of the patients had already been treated with anti-dementia drugs. However, because these researchers evaluated the improvement of cognition and clinical symptoms after the adjunctive administration of the ketogenic formula, previous medications would likely have affected these findings minimally, if at all. Third, the chronic study was an open-label one (single-arm design), and these investigators did not prepare a placebo group. Thus, the authors could not rule out the influence of placebo effects. A further study with a double-blind design is needed to clarify the effectiveness of ketogenic formula intake. Finally, these investigators did not obtain information on the patients' APOE genotype, which may have influenced the results.
Ketogenic Diet for Autism Spectrum Disorder
Gogou and Kolios (2018) noted that a nutritional background has been recognized in the pathophysiology of autism and a series of nutritional interventions have been considered as complementary therapeutic options. As available treatments and interventions are not effective in all individuals, new therapies could broaden management options for these patients. These researchers provided current literature data about the effect of therapeutic diets on autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A systematic review was carried out by 2 reviewers independently; prospective clinical and pre-clinical studies were considered. Therapeutic diets that have been used in children with autism include ketogenic and gluten/casein-free diet. These investigators were able to identify 8 studies conducted in animal models of autism demonstrating a beneficial effect on neurophysiological and clinical parameters. Only 1 clinical study was found showing improvement in childhood autism rating scale after implementation of ketogenic diet. With regard to gluten/casein-free diet, 4 clinical studies were found with 2 of them showing a favorable outcome in children with autism. Furthermore, a combination of gluten-free and modified ketogenic diet in a study had a positive effect on social affect scores. No serious adverse events (AEs) have been reported. The authors concluded that despite encouraging laboratory data, there is controversy regarding the real clinical effect of therapeutic diets in patients with ASD. They stated that more research is needed to provide sounder scientific evidence.
Furthermore, an UpToDate review on "Autism spectrum disorder in children and adolescents: Overview of management" (Weissman and Bridgemohan, 2018) does not mention ketogenic diet as a therapeutic option.
Vargas and Rodriguez (2022) stated that the main treatment for individuals with ASD corresponds to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in combination with pharmacotherapy. Together they seek to attenuate the behavioral symptoms of these patients, as well as to increase their social functionality. However, other strategies have become popular to achieve the same objective of classical treatment. In particular, nutritional interventions are positioned above others, and it is necessary to examine their effectiveness, considering that children with ASD present a marked food selectivity, as well as gastro-intestinal (GI) alterations. In a systematic review, these investigators examined the effectiveness of nutritional interventions in the behavioral symptomatology of infants with ASD. They carried out a systematic search in the Scopus and PubMed databases, in Spanish and English. The filters of clinical studies and original articles were used, choosing only nutritional interventions in children under 19 years of age and who had had at least 4 weeks of intervention. Evidence was found on gluten- and casein-free diets, KD, omega-3 supplementation, prebiotics/probiotics, as well as vitamins/minerals presenting positive results in most of the studies analyzed; however, the heterogeneity of the presented studies requires a greater body of evidence to promote its use. The authors concluded that the 5 types of nutritional interventions examined in this review demosntrated varied evidence that does not allow defining the degree of effectiveness between one or the other in terms of behavioral improvements in the population with ASD.
Ketogenic Diet for Mood Disorders
Brietzke and colleagues (2018) stated that despite significant advances in pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments, mood disorders remain a significant source of mental capital loss, with high rates of treatment resistance, requiring a coordinated effort in investigation and development of efficient, tolerable and accessible novel interventions. Ketogenic diet is a low-carb diet that substantially changes the energetic matrix of the body including the brain. It has been established as an effective anticonvulsant treatment, and more recently, the role of KD for mental disorders has been explored. Ketogenic diet has profound effects in multiple targets implicated in the pathophysiology of mood disorders, including but not limited to, glutamate/GABA transmission, monoamine levels, mitochondrial function and biogenesis, neurotrophism, oxidative stress, insulin dysfunction and inflammation. Pre-clinical studies, case-reports and case-series studies have demonstrated anti-depressant and mood stabilizing effects of ketogenic diet, however, to-date, no clinical trials for depression or bipolar disorder have been conducted. The authors concluded that because of its potential pleiotropic benefits, ketogenic diet should be considered as a promising intervention in research in mood disorder therapeutics, especially in treatment resistant presentations.
Ketogenic Diet for Parkinson's Disease
Phillips and colleagues (2018) noted that preliminary evidence suggested that diet manipulation may influence motor and non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease (PD), but conflict exists regarding the ideal fat-to-carbohydrate ratio. In a pilot, randomized controlled trial (RCT), these researchers compared the plausibility, safety, and efficacy of a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet versus a ketogenic diet in a hospital clinic of PD patients. They developed a protocol to support PD patients in a diet study and randomly assigned patients to a low-fat or ketogenic diet. Primary outcomes were within- and between-group changes in MDS-UPDRS Parts 1 to 4 over 8 weeks. These investigators randomized 47 patients, of which 44 commenced the diets and 38 completed the study (86 % completion rate for patients commencing the diets). The ketogenic diet group maintained physiological ketosis. Both groups significantly decreased their MDS-UPDRS scores, but the ketogenic group decreased more in Part 1 (-4.58 ± 2.17 points, representing a 41 % improvement in baseline Part 1 scores) compared to the low-fat group (-0.99 ± 3.63 points, representing an 11 % improvement) (p < 0.001), with the largest between-group decreases observed for urinary problems, pain and other sensations, fatigue, daytime sleepiness, and cognitive impairment. There were no between-group differences in the magnitude of decrease for Parts 2 to 4. The most common adverse effects were excessive hunger in the low-fat group and intermittent exacerbation of the PD tremor and/or rigidity in the ketogenic group. The authors concluded that this pilot RCT showed that modified diets based on readily available ingredients, with normal protein levels, were plausible and safe treatment approaches in PD, with the ketogenic diet leading to greater improvements in many of the more disabling, less L‐Dopa‐responsive non-motor symptoms. They stated that it was possible that a ketogenic diet could play a complementary role alongside L-Dopa in the treatment of PD, but due to the preliminary nature of these findings, larger and longer RCTs are needed before this can be stated with confidence.
Ketogenic Diet for Schizophrenia
Włodarczyk and colleagues (2018) noted that schizophrenia is a mental disorder that mostly appears in the second or third decade of life with no consistent appearance. The first-line pharmacological treatment are anti-psychotic drugs, which mainly act by suppressing the activity of dopamine. Unfortunately many of schizophrenic patients suffer from persistent positive or negative symptoms that cannot be fully treated with available medication. With exploration on the possible causes of the disease there is evidence on dopaminergic transmission defects, there is a need to find more holistic way in treating the disease and a diet regimen could be one of them. Ketogenic diet, which is a popular diet regimen that consists in low-carbohydrate (about 30 to 50 g/day), medium-protein (up to 1 g/kg daily) and high-fat intake (around 80 % of daily calories) mainly known for its helpful role in weight-loss. The key mechanism is to generate ketosis. A state in which ketones bodies in the blood provides energy part of the body's energy comes from ketone bodies in the blood. Possible hypothesis can be that ketogenic diet changes the ratio of GABA:glutamate in favor of GABA, by suppressing the catabolism and increasing the synthesis of GABA as well as glutamate metabolism, which could help to compensate the disrupted GABA levels in schizophrenic brain, leading to possible better outcome of the disease regarding symptomatology and preventing the weight-gain regarding some medications used and the correlating diseases responsible for weight gain. The clinical value of ketogenic diet in the management of patients with schizophrenia needs to be further investigated.
Ketogenic Diet for Spinal Cord Injury
In a longitudinal, randomized, pilot study, Yarar-Fisher and colleagues (2018) examined the safety and feasibility of a KD intervention in the acute stages of spinal cord injury (SCI); evaluated the effects of a KD on neurological recovery; and identified potential serum biomarkers associated with KD-induced changes in neurological recovery. The KD is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that includes approximately 70 to 80 % total energy as fat. A total of 7 subjects with acute complete and incomplete SCI (AIS A-D) were randomly assigned to KD (n = 4) or standard diet (SD, n = 3). Neurological examinations, resting energy expenditure analysis, and collection of blood for evaluation of circulating ketone levels were performed within 72 hours of injury and before discharge. Un-targeted metabolomics analysis was performed on serum samples to identify potential serum biomarkers that may explain differential responses between groups. The findings primarily demonstrated that KD was safe and feasible to be administered in acute SCI. Furthermore, upper extremity motor scores were higher (p < 0.05) in the KD versus SD group and an anti-inflammatory lysophospholipid, lysoPC 16:0, was present at higher levels, and an inflammatory blood protein, fibrinogen, was present at lower levels in the KD serum samples versus SD serum samples. The authors concluded that these preliminary results suggested that a KD may have anti-inflammatory effects that may promote neuroprotection, resulting in improved neurological recovery in SCI. Moreover, they stated that future studies with larger sample size are needed to demonstrate the efficacy of KD for improving neurological recovery.
Ketogenic Diet for Glioblastoma Multiforme
Klein and colleagues (2020) noted that glioblastoma (GBM) has poor survival with standard treatment. Experimental data suggested potential for metabolic treatment with low carbohydrate KD. Few human studies of KD in GBM have been performed, limited by difficulty and variability of the diet, compliance, and feasibility issues. These researchers developed a novel KD approach of total meal replacement (TMR) program using standardized recipes with ready-made meals. This open-label, pilot study examined feasibility, safety, tolerability, and efficacy of GBM treatment using TMR program with "classic" 4:1 KD. Patients with GBM were treated for 6 months with 4:1 [fat]:[protein + carbohydrate] ratio by weight, 10 g CH/day, 1600 kcal/day TMR. They were either newly diagnosed (group 1) and treated adjunctively to radiation and temozolomide or had recurrent GBM (group 2). Patients checked blood glucose and blood and urine ketone levels twice-daily and had regular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Primary outcome measures included retention, treatment-emergent AEs (TEAEs), and TEAE-related discontinuation. Secondary outcome measures were survival time from treatment initiation and time to MRI progression. Recruitment was slow, resulting in early termination of the study. A total of 8 patients participated, 4 in group 1 and 4 in group 2; 5 (62.5 %) subjects completed the 6 months of treatment, 4/4 subjects in group 1 and 1/4 in group 2; 3 subjects stopped KD early: 2 (25 %) because of GBM progression and 1 (12.5 %) because of diet restrictiveness; 4 subjects, all group 1, continued KD on their own, 3 until shortly before death, for total of 26, 19.3, and 7 months, 1 ongoing. The diet was well-tolerated; TEAEs, all mild and transient, included weight loss and hunger (n = 6) that resolved with caloric increase, nausea (n = 2), dizziness (n = 2), fatigue, and constipation (n = 1 each). No one discontinued KD because of TEAEs; 7 patients died. For these, mean (range) survival time from diet initiation was 20 months for group 1 (9.5 to 27) and 12.8 months for group 2 (6.3 to 19.9). Mean survival time from diagnosis was 21.8 months for group 1 (11 to 29.2) and 25.4 months for group 2 ( 13.9 to 38.7). One patient with recurrent GBM and progression on bevacizumab experienced a remarkable symptom reversal, tumor shrinkage, and edema resolution 6 to 8 weeks after KD initiation and survival for 20 months after starting KD. The authors concluded that treatment of GBM patients with 4:1 KD using total meal replacement program with standardized recipes was well-tolerated; however, the small sample size limited efficacy conclusions.
The authors stated that this study had significant limitations. It was a very small (n = 8), open-label study; and had 2 different GBM patient populations (newly diagnosed and recurrent). It had potential for patient self-selection bias. KD is not a recognized treatment for GBM. Subjects were all patients who were seeking additional therapeutic options and were highly motivated. Concomitant treatments were allowed. The 2 subjects with longer than expected survival used other therapies (bevacizumab, with pre-KD progression, but continued with KD and bis-chloroethylnitrosourea (BCNU), started 4 months after KD in 1 patient, and various supplements in the other patient). Factors that may affect survival such as age, genetic background, and concomitant treatments were not controlled. The TMR was “one size fits all”, without caloric adjustment for gender, size, or activity. These researchers are adapting the program to allow such flexibility in the future.
Ketogenic Diet for the Prevention of Glioma Growth and Improvement of Survival
Schreck and colleagues (2021) examined the feasibility, safety, systemic biological activity, and cerebral activity of a KD in patients with glioma. A total of 25 patients with biopsy-confirmed World Health Organization (WHO) grade-2 to grade-4 astrocytoma with stable disease after adjuvant chemotherapy were enrolled in an 8-week Glioma Atkins-Based Diet (GLAD). GLAD consisted of 2 fasting days (calories less than 20 % calculated estimated needs) interleaved between 5 modified Atkins diet days (net carbohydrates less than or equal to 20 g/day) each week. The primary outcome was dietary adherence by food records. Markers of systemic and cerebral activity included weekly urine ketones, serum insulin, glucose, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), insulin-like growth factor-1 (ILGF-!), and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) at baseline and week 8. A total of 21 patients (84 %) completed the study; 80 % of patients reached greater than or equal to 40 mg/dL urine acetoacetate during the study; 48 % of patients were adherent by food record. The diet was well-tolerated, with 2 grade-3 adverse events (neutropenia, seizure). Measures of systemic activity, including HbA1c, insulin, and fat body mass, decreased significantly, while lean body mass increased. MRS demonstrated increased ketone concentrations (β-hydroxybutyrate [bHB] and acetone) in both lesional and contralateral brain compared to baseline. Average ketonuria correlated with cerebral ketones in lesional (tumor) and contralateral brain (bHB R s = 0.52, p = 0.05). Subgroup analysis of isocitrate dehydrogenase-mutant glioma showed no differences in cerebral metabolites after controlling for ketonuria. The authors concluded that the findings of this study demonstrated that a strict KD therapy with intermittent fasting can be undertaken safely in patients with glioma and successfully produces quantifiable systemic and cerebral metabolic changes, indicating a meaningful biological effect. Moreover, these researchers stated that future studies are needed to examine if GLAD can prevent glioma growth and improve survival.
The authors stated that this study had several drawbacks. The most obvious was the high degree of self-selection in the study population. More than 110 patients were screened to enroll the 25 needed to complete this study. While these investigators have shown that the GLAD intervention is feasible and safe in a select population, that may not be true in the general population of patients with glioma. A second drawback to generalizability was the high degree of contact with study team members provided to all subjects, with a detailed dietary education session at enrollment, bi-weekly in-person study visits with a registered dietitian, and regular access to the study team for support. This level of accessibility may not be feasible in a larger study or routine clinical care. Furthermore, due to technical factors, several patients' MRS studies were excluded, leaving only 19 paired scans for evaluation, which limited the power to detect cerebral metabolic effects.
Ketogenic Diet for the Prevention of Migraines
In a pilot study, Haslam and associates (2021) examined if KDT is superior to an evidence-informed healthy "anti-headache" dietary pattern (AHD) in improving migraine frequency, severity and duration. A 12-week randomized controlled cross-over trial consisting of the 2 dietary intervention periods was undertaken. Eligible subjects were those with a history of migraines and who had regularly experienced episodes of moderate or mildly intense headache in the previous 4 weeks. Migraine frequency, duration and severity were assessed via self-report in the Migraine Buddy app. Subjects were asked to measure urinary ketones and side effects throughout the KDT. A total of 26 subjects were enrolled, and 16 completed all sessions. A total of 11 subjects completed a symptom checklist, all reported side-effects during KDT, with the most frequently reported side effect being fatigue (n = 11). All completers experienced migraine during AHD, with 14/16 experiencing migraine during KDT. Differences in migraine frequency, severity or duration between dietary intervention groups were not statistically significant; however, a clinically important trend toward lower migraine duration on KDT was noted. The authors concluded that further research is needed, with strategies to lower participant burden and promote adherence and retention.
The authors stated that one of the main limitations of this study was the small sample size (n = 11 completed the checklist). While expressions of interest to participate in this study were above expectations, highlighting the prevalence of headache and interest in diet to resolve migraine, only a small number of participants met the eligibility criteria, and of those, 36 % consented, with about 1/3 of those randomized not completing the full study protocol. Future research should expand inclusion criteria to also include those with severe headache, not migraine only. A further limitation was that baseline migraine characteristics cannot be reported, as this information was gathered in the eligibility screener before consent was obtained. Furthermore, the sample was predominantly female and had factors such as the menstrual cycle potentially being one of the causes of migraine; therefore, the findings cannot be transferred to the male population. Another limitation of this study was that the dietary protocol prescribed did not take into account participant baseline intake and individual caloric requirements. While participants were allowed to eat ad libitum above the base protocol (only from a prescribed list of suitable ketogenic snacks), it would be beneficial for future studies to take a more individualized approach. One such example could be getting participants to keep a 14-day food record before commencing the intervention, or to estimate individual total daily energy requirements from equations and the KD protocol to be based off individual caloric requirements. Future research should also consider strategies for reducing the rate of drop-out through reducing the burden of following a KD and also monitoring. This could include less frequent measurement of urinary ketones than daily and commencing participants on a lower ketogenic ratio and only moving to a more restrictive ratio if ketosis is not reached. Data from this study suggested that this could be an appropriate strategy; however, there were insufficient data to make a strong recommendation. The inclusion of ketogenic meal-replacement supplements should also be considered due to the unpalatability of many ketogenic meal options. Lastly, this was only a short-term study, and not all participants experienced a migraine during this period. Future studies should consider trialing this diet for longer periods; however, further efforts to minimize participant burden and improve palatability of the diet would need to be addressed.
Caminha and colleagues (2022) stated that migraine is a headache of variable intensity that is associated with focal and systemic symptoms. A KD causes brain metabolic alterations, which could be beneficial for some neurologic conditions. In a systematic review, these investigators examined the tolerability and effectiveness of KD in the prevention of migraine in adolescents and adults. The PRISMA standard was used to review articles found in the PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, LILACS, LIVIVO, Science Direct, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases. The Google Scholar, DOAJ, ProQuest, and OpenGrey databases were included. The population, intervention, comparison, outcome, and study design strategy included assessing the quality of the evidence using Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Evaluation (GRADE) and the risk of bias after applying the JBI critical appraisal tools. Most of the 10 selected studies reported that KD reduced the number and severity of migraine attacks in patients, with few reported adverse effects. The evidence on the effectiveness of the KD was low, so whether the final effect was due to the treatment remained inconclusive. The authors concluded that this study represented an initial effort to systematize information on the tolerability and effectiveness of KD and its variations in the prevention of migraine.
Ketogenic Diet for the Treatment of Mitochondrial Disease
Zweers and colleagues (2021) stated that no curative therapy for mitochondrial disease (MD) exists, prioritizing supportive treatment for symptom relief. In animal and cell models, ketones decrease oxidative stress, increase antioxidants and scavenge free radicals, putting KDs on the list of management options for MD. In a systematic review, these investigators examined the safety and effectiveness of KDs for the management of patients with MD. They searched PubMed, Cochrane, Embase and Cinahl (November 2020) with search terms linked to MD and KD. From the identified records, these researchers excluded studies on pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency. From these eligible reports, cases without a genetically confirmed diagnosis and cases without sufficient data on KD and clinical course were excluded. The remaining studies were included in the qualitative analysis. Only 20 cases (14 pediatric) from the 694 papers identified met the inclusion criteria (1 controlled trial (n = 5), 15 case reports). KD led to seizure control in 7 out of 8 cases and improved muscular symptoms in 3 of 10 individuals. In 4 of 20 cases, KD reversed the clinical phenotype (e.g., cardiomyopathy, movement disorder). In 5 adults with mitochondrial DNA deletion(s)-related myopathy, rhabdomyolysis led to cessation of KD. Three individuals with POLG mutations died while being on KD, however, their survival was not different compared to individuals with POLG mutations without KD. The authors concluded that data on the safety and effectiveness of KDs for MD is too scarce for general recommendations. KD should be considered in individuals with MD and therapy refractory epilepsy, while KD is contraindicated in mitochondrial DNA deletion(s)-related myopathy. These researchers stated that when considering KD for MD the high rate of adverse effects should be taken into account, but also spectacular improvements in individual cases. KD is a highly individual management option in this fragile patient group and requires an experienced team. To increase knowledge on this-individually-promising management option more (prospective) studies using adequate outcome measures are crucial.
Ketogenic Diet for the Treatment of Super-Refractory Status Epilepticus
Kaul and colleagues (2021) stated that the current level of evidence to support the use of KD to treat super-refractory status epilepticus (SRSE) is limited to small, uncontrolled studies and is subject to publication bias. These investigators focused on the practical considerations of implementing KD therapy in the acute setting, including the dietary composition, potential drug-diet interactions, and monitoring during ketogenic treatment. The authors concluded that while the emerging number of publications with low-level evidence provided promising data that KD may be a safe and effective adjunctive treatment, a robust RCT is needed to examine the effectiveness of KD for the treatment of SRSE. They noted that future studies should focus on the optimal timing, duration, and nutrition prescription of KD therapy. Moreover, these researchers stated that the interactions between drug treatments for SRSE and KD therapy need to be carefully considered to ensure that KD is effective and to minimize the risk of complications. In addition, the optimal timing of KD therapy in the treatment course of SRSE remains unknown.
Ketogenic Diet for the Treatment of Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus
In a systematic review, Tinguely and colleagues (2021) examined the pleiotropic effects of KD on glucose control, changes in medication, and weight loss in individuals with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); and assessed its practical feasibility. KD resulted in improved hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) after 3 weeks, and the effect appeared to persist for at least 1 year. This was associated with a reduction in glucose-lowering medications. The weight loss observed after a short time period appeared to be maintained with a long-term diet. Adequate support (supportive psychological counseling, enhancing positive affectivity, reinforcing mindful eating) is needed to achieve a benefit and to assure adherence. The authors concluded that KD appeared to be a promising dietary intervention for the improvement of the glycemic control in patients with T2DM; however, the benefits believed to be induced by generating a ketogenic state need to be corroborated with well-planned research studies. These researchers stated that KD should be carried out under strict medical supervision; and future research should clarify how compliance can be maximized and how ketosis can be optimally monitored.
The authors stated that the current systematic review included only publications covering the last 10 years. Many of the included studies had a limited methodology, sometimes without a control group, and a high or unclear risk of biases. However, these limitations were inherent to interventional diet studies, which cannot be single- or double-blinded. These investigators also included retrospective observational studies that cannot be evaluated for quality given their design. Finally, these researchers acknowledged that the short period of coverage and/or the sample size may form additional limitations.
Ketogenic Diet for the Treatment of Doose Syndrome (Epilepsy with Myoclonic Atonic Seizures) / Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome
Rubenstein et al (2005) noted that the KD has traditionally been considered an anti-convulsant therapy of last resort, despite excellent efficacy and limited side effects. These researchers hypothesized that the KD would have similar results in patients with new-onset epilepsy. They carried out a retrospective study of patients who started on the KD since 1994. A total of 13 of 460 (2.8 %) patients were started on the KD as early (0 or 1 prior anti-convulsant) therapy for seizures. Of those remaining on the KD, 60 % (6 of 10) had a greater than 90 % seizure reduction at 6 months and 100 % (6 of 6) had a greater than 90 % reduction at 12 months. Patients with infantile spasms were as likely to achieve greater than 50 % seizure reduction at 6 months as patients with other seizure types (75 % versus 60 %; p = 0.6). The authors concluded that the KD could be a valuable therapy before epilepsy becomes intractable. In the 13 patients reported, effectiveness without side effects was achieved similarly to that with patients with intractable epilepsy.
Bergqvist et al (2012) stated that myoclonic astatic epilepsy (MAE) is a rare childhood generalized epilepsy syndrome of unknown incidence and etiology. Onset may be explosive with a myriad of different seizure types and children may become severely affected with an epileptic encephalopathy. This disorder may be particularly sensitive to the KD.
Kossoff et al (2018) stated that KD therapies (KDTs) are established, effective non-pharmacologic treatments for intractable childhood epilepsy. For many years KDTs were implemented differently throughout the world due to lack of consistent protocols. In 2009, an expert consensus guideline for the management of children on KDT was published, focusing on topics of patient selection, pre-KDT counseling and evaluation, diet choice and attributes, implementation, supplementation, follow-up, side events, and KDT discontinuation. It has been helpful in outlining a state-of-the-art protocol, standardizing KDT for multi-center clinical trials, and identifying areas of controversy and uncertainty for future research. Now 10 years later, the organizers and authors of this guideline presented a revised version with additional authors, in order to include recent research, especially regarding other dietary treatments, clarifying indications for use, side effects during initiation and ongoing use, value of supplements, and methods of KDT discontinuation. Furthermore, the authors completed a survey of their institution's practices, which was compared to responses from the original consensus survey, to show trends in management over the last 10 years. These researchers stated that KDTs have also been described as particularly useful for certain epilepsy and genetic syndromes. Myoclonic epilepsies, including Dravet syndrome and epilepsy with myoclonic‐atonic seizures (Doose syndrome) appear to respond well to KDT.
Nickels et al (2021) noted that epilepsy with myoclonic-atonic seizures (EMAS) is a rare childhood onset epileptic encephalopathy. There is no clear consensus for recommended treatments, and pharmaco-resistance is common. To better assess the clinical phenotype, most effective treatment, and determinants of cognitive and seizure outcomes, 3 major pediatric epilepsy centers combined data, creating the largest cohort of patients with EMAS ever studied to-date. These investigators carried out a retrospective chart review of patients with EMAS who received care at the authors' institutions. A total of 166 children were identified. Global developmental delay (greater than 1 domain) was present in 2 % of children at onset and 49 % during the course of the disease. Afebrile seizures occurred after the age of 2 years in 88 %, generalized tonic-clonic seizures in 60 %, and drop-attack or myoclonic seizures in 30 %. At onset, electroencephalography (EEG) found 28 % normal, background slowing in 20 %, and epileptiform discharges or seizures in 69 %. Subsequent EEG found slowing in 62 % and discharges or seizures in 90 %. Response (greater than 50 % seizure reduction) to the first 3 anti-seizure drugs (ASDs) was 26 % (levetiracetam, 17 %; valproic acid, 31 %; other ASDs combined, 26 %). Diet therapy was used as a 2nd or 3rd therapy in 19 % and ultimately used in 57 %; response was 79 %, significantly greater than the first 3 ASDs (p = 0.005). Seizure freedom occurred in 57 % and was less likely in the case of persistent global developmental delays (p < 0.001), seizure recorded on subsequent EEGs (p = 0.027), and failure to respond to diet therapy (p = 0.005). Development was normal in 47 %, and 12 % had delays in 1 domain, which was less likely in the case of global developmental delay after epilepsy onset (p < 0.001) and failure to achieve seizure freedom (p < 0.001). The authors concluded that this large cohort of children with EMAS clarified areas of variability in practice. Diet therapy is by far the most effective treatment; failure to respond was associated with failure to attain seizure freedom. This therapy should be used early in the treatment in EMAS.
Furthermore, an UpToDate review on “Ketogenic dietary therapies for the treatment of epilepsy” (Kossoff, 2022) provides the following information:
“Particularly responsive conditions -- A number of epilepsy syndromes, listed below, appear to be particularly responsive to the KDTs, identified by the expert panel as conditions with at least 3 publications from at least 2 ketogenic dietary centers that consistently reported a 20 % or greater improvement in efficacy above the "norm" for KDT (i.e., a 40 to 50 % hance of ≥ 50 % seizure reduction); that is, conditions with 60 to 70 % responder rates.
Doose syndrome -- Doose syndrome (epilepsy with myoclonic-atonic seizures), a generalized epilepsy of early childhood with a high frequency of intractability, has been reported to respond rapidly and often completely to KDT in a number of case series. Up to 5 % of patients with Doose syndrome may have glucose transporter 1 (GLUT-1) deficiency, another condition that responds to KDT as discussed below. A 3-center study of children with Doose syndrome found that KDT was associated with a 50 % or greater reduction in seizures in 79 % of cases, compared with only 26 % with standard antiseizure medications”.
Skrobas et al (2022) noted that epilepsy is an important medical problem with approximately 50 million patients globally. No more than 70 % of epileptic patients will achieve seizure control following ASDs, and several epileptic syndromes, including Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), are pre-disposed to more frequent pharmaco-resistance. Ketogenic dietary therapies are a form of non-pharmacological treatments used in attempts to provide seizure control for LGS patients who experience pharmaco-resistance. These investigators examined the effectiveness and practicalities concerning the use of KDTs in the treatment of patients with LGS. In general, KDTs are diets rich in fat and low in carbohydrates that put the organism into the state of ketosis. A classic KD (cKD) is the best-evaluated KDT, while alternative KDTs, such as the MCT, modified Atkins diet (MAD), and low glycemic index treatment (LGIT) present several advantages due to their better tolerability and easier administration. The available evidence on LGS suggested that KDTs could provide 50 % or higher seizure reduction and seizure-free status in a considerable percentage of the patients. The most commonly reported AEs were constipation, diarrhea, and vomiting, while severe AEs such as nephrolithiasis or osteopenia were rarely reported. The authors concluded that the findings of this review suggested that KDTs could be applied safely and were effective in LGS treatment.
Ketogenic Diet for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
Enders et al (2022) noted that diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), a complication of metabolic syndrome, type I, and type II diabetes mellitus (T1DM and T2DM), results in sensory changes that include slow nerve conduction, nerve degeneration, loss of sensation, pain, and gate disturbances. These complications remain largely untreatable, although tight glycemic control could prevent neuropathy progression. Non-pharmacological approaches remain the most impactful to-date; however, further advances in therapeutic approaches are needed. These investigators highlighted several emerging interventions, including a focus on dietary interventions and physical activity that continue to show promise in the treatment of patients with DPN. They provided an overview of the current understanding of how exercise could improve aspects of DPN. These researchers also highlighted new studies in which a KD has been employed as an intervention to prevent and reverse DPN. Both exercise and consuming a KD induced systemic and cellular changes that collectively improved complications associated with DPN. Both interventions may involve similar signaling pathways and benefits but also impact DPN through unique mechanisms. The authors concluded that these lifestyle interventions were critically important as personalized medicine approaches would likely be needed to identify specific subsets of neuropathy symptoms and deficits in patients and determine the most impactful treatment. Overall, these 2 interventions exhibited potential to provide meaningful relief for patients with DPN and provided new avenues to identify new therapeutic targets.
Ketogenic Diet for Mental Illness
In search of interventions targeting brain dysfunction and underlying cognitive impairment in schizophrenia, Sethi and ford (2022) examined the brain and beyond to the potential role of dysfunctional systemic metabolism on neural network instability and insulin resistance in serious mental illness. These investigators stated that disrupted insulin and cerebral glucose metabolism are observed even in medication-naïve 1st-episode schizophrenia, suggesting that individuals with schizophrenia are at risk for T2DM and cardiovascular disease, resulting in a shortened lifespan. Although glucose is the brain's default fuel, ketones are a more efficient fuel for the brain. These researchers highlighted evidence that a KD could improve both the metabolic and neural stability profiles. Specifically, a KD could improve mitochondrial metabolism, neurotransmitter function, oxidative stress/inflammation, while also increasing neural network stability and cognitive function. To reverse the neurodegenerative process, increasing the brain's access to ketone bodies may be needed. These researchers described evidence that metabolic, neuro-protective, and neurochemical benefits of a KD could potentially provide symptomatic relief to individuals with schizophrenia while also improving their cardiovascular or metabolic health. These investigators reviewed evidence for KD side effects and noted that although high in fat it improved various cardiovascular and metabolic risk markers in over-weight/obese individuals. The authors concluded by calling for RCTs to confirm or refute the findings from anecdotal and case reports to address the potential beneficial effects of the KD in individuals with serious mental illness.
Ketogenic Diet for Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy
Zhou et al (2023) stated that the prevalence of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is increasing; therefore, effective treatments and preventions are urgently needed. While the underlying pathology of HIE remains unclear; recent research has focused on elucidating key features of the disease. A variety of diseases can be alleviated by consuming a KD despite differences in pathogenesis and features, given the common mechanisms of KD-induced effects. Dietary modification is the most translatable, cost-efficient, and safest approach to treat acute or chronic neurological disorders and reduces reliance on pharmacotherapies. Available evidence suggested that the KD could exert beneficial effects in animal models and in humans with brain injuries. The effectiveness of the KD in preventing neuronal damage, motor alterations, and cognitive decline varies. Moreover, the KD may provide an alternative source of energy, enhance mitochondrial function, and reduce the expression of inflammatory and apoptotic mediators. Therefore, KD has attracted interest as a potential treatment for HIE. These investigators examined the role of the KD in the treatment of patients with HIE and described the mechanisms by which ketone bodies (KBs) exert effects under pathological conditions and protect against brain damage; the evidence supports the implementation of dietary interventions as a therapeutic strategy for HIE. The authors concluded that future research should investigate the underlying mechanisms of the KD in patients with HIE and examine if the effect of the KD on clinical outcomes can be reproduced in humans.
Ketogenic Diet for Neurological Diseases
Dynka et al (2022) stated that over 100 years of study on the favorable effect of KDs in the treatment of epilepsy have contributed to a long-lasting discussion on its potential influence on other neurological diseases. A significant increase in the number of scientific studies in that field has been currently observed. These investigators conducted a thorough analysis of the available evidence regarding the role of the KD in the treatment of neurological diseases including epilepsy, AD, PD, multiple sclerosis (MS) and migraine. A wide range of the mechanisms of action of the KD has been demonstrated in neurological diseases, including, among other effects, its influence on the reduction in inflammatory conditions and the amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the restoration of the myelin sheath of the neurons, the formation and regeneration of mitochondria, neuronal metabolism, the provision of an alternative source of energy for neurons (ketone bodies), the reduction in glucose and insulin concentrations, the reduction in amyloid plaques, the induction of autophagy, the alleviation of microglia activation, the reduction in excessive neuronal activation, the modulation of intestinal microbiota, the expression of genes, dopamine production and the increase in glutamine conversion into GABA. The studies discussed (including RCTs), conducted in neurological patients, have stressed the effectiveness of the KD in the treatment of epilepsy and have demonstrated its promising therapeutic potential in AD, PD, MS and migraine. A frequent advantage of the KD was demonstrated over non-KDs (in the control groups) in the therapy of neurological diseases, with simultaneous safety and feasibility when conducting the nutritional model.
The authors stated that the main drawbacks of this review included a low number of available studies and, especially, a low number of qualitative studies. Although the highest-quality body of evidence suggested the effectiveness of the KD in the treatment of epilepsy, the situation is not similar in the case of the remaining neurological diseases. This resulted from the fact that the development of research in the field of neurological diseases other than epilepsy is a relatively new phenomenon. All meta-analyses and systematic reviews concerning AD, PD, MS and migraine commenced in 2020 (according to the PubMed search engine); this fact justified the need for the exploration of this new research domain.
Ketogenic Diet for Weight Management in Prader-Willi Syndrome
Kisa et al (2022) noted that Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is the most common genetic cause of obesity. Prevention and management of obesity, which represents the main cause of morbidity and mortality in these patients, is essential. Ketogenic diet is used in the treatment of various disorders; however, knowledge of its effect in PWS is lacking. In a retrospective, cross-sectional study, these researchers examined the characteristics of patients with PWS who were on KD. This trial included patients with PWS who had received KD for at least 6 months. A total of 10 patients with PWS (median age of 52.5 (47 to 77) months) complied with KD. The median treatment period was 16.5 (11 to 52) months. Of the daily calorie, 75 % to 85 % were from fat, and 15 % to 25 % from protein + carbohydrate. The baseline body weight standard deviation (SD) score before diet therapy was 2.10 (-1.11 to 4.11), whereas it was 0.05 (-0.92 to 1.2) at final evaluation (p = 0.007). The baseline median BMI SD score before diet therapy was 3.05 (-0.21 to 3.72), whereas it was 0.41 (-0.87 to 1.57) at final evaluation (p = 0.002). The height SD score remained unchanged. Mild hypercholesterolemia was the most common biochemical abnormality during treatment with KD. The authors concluded that the findings of this study indicated that KD might have a favorable effect on weight management in patients with PWS. This was a small (n = 10) study; these preliminary findings need to be validated by well-designed studies.
Low-Carbohydrate Ketogenic Diets for Reduction of Cardiovascular Risk Factor Levels in Obese or Over-Weight Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
In a meta-analysis, Luo et al (2022) examined the effects of low-carbohydrate KDs on cardiovascular risk factors in over-weight or obese patients. However, there are limited data regarding the effects of low-carbohydrate KDs on cardiovascular risk factors in obese or over-weight patients. These investigators searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, OVID, and Cochrane Library databases (last updated in September 2022) for RCTs that recruited over-weight or obesity patients on KDs in order to control cardiovascular risk factors (blood glucose, weight, and lipids). The overall effect size for continuous variables was expressed as a weighted SMD with a CI of 95 %. Considering T2DM status at baseline, subgroup analyses were carried out when appropriate, based on T2DM co-morbidity among patients. The effect model was selected according to heterogeneity. These researchers selected 21 studies. Low-carbohydrate KDs exerted a greater impact on cardiovascular risk factors in obese/ over-weight patients with T2DM when compared with those on non-KDs, with lower fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (SMD, -0.75; p < 0.001) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (SMD, -0.53; p < 0.001) levels identified. Low-carbohydrate KDs significantly reduced body mass index (BMI) (SMD, -2.27; p = 0.032), weight (SMD, -6.72; p < 0.001), and waist circumference (SMD, -4.45; p = 0.003) in obese/ over-weight patients with T2DM. Furthermore, KDs improved lipid profiles in these patients; triglyceride (TG) (SMD, -0.32; p = 0.013) levels were lowered and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) showed an upward trend with the p-value close to statistically significant level (SMD, -0.32; p = 0.052). In general, irrespective of diabetic status at baseline, KDs were more effective in reducing TG (SMD, -0.2; p = 0.02) and increasing HDL (SMD, 0.11; p = 0.03) levels when compared with non-KDs. The authors concluded that low-carbohydrate KDs effectively improved cardiovascular risk factors (blood glucose, weight, and lipids) in obese / over-weight patients, especially those with T2DM when compared with non-ketogenic diets. Moreover, these researchers stated that there remains a requirement for further prospective studies, to determine the long-term effects of low-carbohydrate KDs on cardiovascular risk markers in obese/over-weight populations, and to determine their impact on cardiovascular event endpoints in these populations.
The authors stated that this meta-analysis had several drawbacks. First, these investigators combined RCT ketogenic diets with different control diets. Second, cardiovascular risk factors were used to examine the metabolic effects of KDs, including blood glucose levels, weight, and lipid composition, rather than to evaluate cardiovascular disease incidence and mortality in patients. However, the effects of KDs on cardiovascular risk factors could help validate the effects of low-carbohydrate KDs on clinical cardiovascular event endpoints. Third, heterogeneity was evident in these data and was possibly due to differences in control diets and follow-up durations across the 21 studies. However, the comprehensive sensitivity analysis, publication bias, and trim and fill evaluation indicated the reliability of these observations.
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