Ketogenic Diet for Other Epilepsies

Abstract

Abstract The ketogenic diet is the treatment of choice for epilepsy in certain disorders of brain metabolism, particularly glucose transporter type 1 deficiency and pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency. The International Ketogenic Diet Study Group has listed several other conditions for which the ketogenic diet has been reported as being consistently more beneficial than average and for which the diet could be offered earlier. Whether efficacy in these conditions is due in part to the broad-spectrum efficacy of the ketogenic diet or due to mechanisms specific to these conditions is still under investigation. This chapter covers the use of dietary therapies for the treatment of epilepsy in certain genetic disorders, including Angelman syndrome and tuberous sclerosis complex, as listed by the International Ketogenic Diet Study Group, and in addition the chapter considers the use of epilepsy dietary therapies in patients with Rett syndrome and Sturge-Weber syndrome.